General Dynamics' Fort Worth Division designed and built the YF-16/F-16 Fighting Falcon — the aircraft that most directly embodied Boyd's E-M theory principles. Chief designer Harry Hillaker maintained a secret back-channel collaboration with Boyd throughout the design process, incorporating Boyd's insights about energy maneuverability, wing loading, thrust-to-weight ratio, and combat agility. The F-16 became the most successful fighter aircraft in history (4,600+ produced, 25+ nations). The relationship between Boyd and General Dynamics was paradoxical: Boyd was a fierce critic of defense contractor culture and cost overruns, yet his most tangible legacy was a product of that very industry — designed by an engineer who shared his vision but worked within the system Boyd spent his career attacking.