Dave
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2008
- Messages
- 52,785
Not if there is lightning.
![]()
Risk Of Thunderstorms Prevented Dutch F-35s From Escorting U.S. B-52 During Allied Sky Mission
The Royal Netherlands Air Force had announced the participation of the F-35s in the one-day exercise. But the risk of thunderstorm forced the Koninklijke Luchtmacht to cancel the participation of i…theaviationist.com
Not the B's that are being discussed in the above post (also not the C's).
The problem is with the Onboard Inert Gas Generation System (OBIGGS) is a safety subsystem common in modern airplanes. A typical OBIGGS system diverts air from the aircraft engine and separates the nitrogen, injecting it into the jet’s fuel tanks. The more inflammable nitrogen present the less flammable oxygen, helping reduce the possibility of fuel tank explosions. Wartime damage aside, one way a fuel tank explosion might take place is as a result of a lightning strike.
Inspectors at the Air Force’s Ogden Logistics Complex discovered damage to the tubes that funnel nitrogen into the fuel tanks in 14 out of 24 out of F-35As inspected. The problem appears limited to the Air Force’s F-35A model. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, which operate the -C and -B versions of the F-35, have not seen similar problems.

The F-35 Lightning II Can't Fly Near...Lightning
Weakness is its middle name.