The F-35 thread

[buka001]

There's a video at http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a26348/f-35-wales-mach-loop/


Another one on YouTube

[video=youtube_share;txooHvssic4]https://youtu.be/txooHvssic4[/video]

I didn't realise you were in England.

Yip, my office is alongside Farnborough Airport. Last year was awesome during the Airshow week.

Had the F-35 (plus F-18 and others) doing acceptance trials everyday for a week prior to the show.

Flew so close over us I could see the pilot.

If you look at one of my previous posts on this thread you will see a picture I took of it as it flew over us.

 

[buka001]

Gonna be there in July, hope to head out there for a day or two.

You should go to RIAT. Its in July. No F-35, but the F-22 will be there.

 

[FoXtroT]

You should go to RIAT. Its in July. No F-35, but the F-22 will be there.

I am, pity about the F-35 though. Might be lucky enough to catch it in the loop though.

 

[buka001]

I am, pity about the F-35 though. Might be lucky enough to catch it in the loop though.

USAF is bringing the Thunderbirds, B-52 and B-1 along as well. Looking forward to it.

 

[Dave]

Gonna be there in July, hope to head out there for a day or two.

You can check if there's any scheduled flying at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operational-low-flying-training-timetable

 

[FoXtroT]

You can check if there's any scheduled flying at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operational-low-flying-training-timetable

Thanks

 

[Dave]

MBDA ASRAAM now integrated into the F35 weapons system.



Tim Robinson (@RAeSTimR)
09/06/2017, 10:49
Amazing pic of 8th & final UK MBDA ASRAAM test firing from Paveway IV armed F-35B at Pax River #avgeek (via f35.com)

 

[Dave]

Japanese production line now in operation, first F35 has come off the line.

The first Japanese-assembled F-35A was unveiled at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Komaki South F-35 Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility here today. The Japan F-35 FACO is operated by MHI with technical assistance from Lockheed Martin and oversight from the U.S. Government.

“Seeing the first Japanese built F-35A is a testament to the global nature of this program”, said Vice Adm. Mat Winter, F-35 Program Executive Officer.“This state of the art assembly facility, staffed with a talented and motivated workforce, enables us to leverage industry’s unique talents and technological know-how to produce the world’s best multi-role fighter.The F-35 will enhance the strength of our security alliances and reinforce long-established bonds with our allies through training opportunities, exercises, and military-to-military events.”

The Japanese Ministry of Defense competitively selected the F-35A as the JASDF’s next-generation air defense fighter in December 2011, with a Foreign Military Sales program of record of 42 F-35As. The first four JASDF F-35As were previously delivered from the Fort Worth, Texas, production facility. Subsequent deliveries of 38 F-35A aircraft will come from the FACO here in Japan.

http://f35.com/news/detail/first-japanese-built-f-35a-officially-unveiled-at-nagoya-facility

 

[buka001]

The Times (in the UK) has released reports from an investigation it carried out on the F-35 contract for the UK.

It is behind a paywall, but other articles on it -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ghter-jets-hit-issues-send-costs-soaring.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...g-hundreds-millions-hidden-costs-new-fighter/

Key findings -

And some of the planes are expected to be too heavy to safely conduct a vertical landing - a key function which the jet had been designed to carry out.

Vibrating missiles; tail overheats when accelerates to Mach 1.5; under elevated G conditions, pilots report unacceptable flying conditions, no electrical engine ice protection

Running costs exceed the F-15 by at least two times

Coding errors are discovered at a rate of 20 per month

There were also recent reports of issues with the helmet display system, where a pilot made a carrier landing completely blind, due to the failure of the helmet.

Additionally many issues with in-flight refueling have been observed.

Still a long way to go for an "Operational Aircraft"?

 

[Blu82]

Has the F-35A been returned to flight status yet? Last time I checked they grounded it due problems with the oxygen systems also seen in other aircraft in their inventory.

The US Air Force's 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona today cancelled "local flying operations" for F-35A fighters after five incidents in which pilots "experienced hypoxia-like symptoms," an Air Force spokesperson said in a statement. Hypoxia is a deficiency in oxygen reaching the body through the circulatory system.

Source

 

[buka001]

I am, pity about the F-35 though. Might be lucky enough to catch it in the loop though.

Were you at RIAT on Sunday? Fantastic surprise visit from the B-2!

 

[Dave]

The Times (in the UK) has released reports from an investigation it carried out on the F-35 contract for the UK.

It is behind a paywall, but other articles on it -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ghter-jets-hit-issues-send-costs-soaring.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...g-hundreds-millions-hidden-costs-new-fighter/

Key findings -

And some of the planes are expected to be too heavy to safely conduct a vertical landing - a key function which the jet had been designed to carry out.



.

Still a long way to go for an "Operational Aircraft"?

I don't think I've ever seen it envisaged that the B was designed for vertical landings while fully loaded, the system has always been STO and SRVL. It's certainly the case with the UK aircraft.

Note the date:

08 OCTOBER, 2010

Lockheed Martin has received a $13 million contract to incorporate a shipborne rolling vertical landing (SRVL) capability with the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B, with the work to be performed on behalf of the UK.

The US Navy announced details of the Joint Strike Fighter award on 6 October, just two weeks before the UK's coalition government will disclose the details of its Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) process. This has assessed the nation's long-term military requirements, including major equipment acquisitions such as the F-35 and two future aircraft carriers.

Developed by the UK, the SRVL technique will enable the F-35B to return to an aircraft carrier's deck carrying more weapons or fuel than possible when making a vertical landing.

Approaches would typically be flown at 60-70kt (111-129km/h) and with a flight path angle of 6-7°. An algorithm is used to calculate the optimum approach profile for given sea conditions, while the best landing point will be highlighted by using deck lighting.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...unds-for-uk-f-35-landing-modification-348294/

Did you know that SOPs on the Harrier was to dump all unused munitions on return to be able to land safely? (Which the B won't have to do).

There were also recent reports of issues with the helmet display system, where a pilot made a carrier landing completely blind, due to the failure of the helmet.

A helmet malfunction somehow proves the F35 program is faulty? You realise that a number of military pilots on all sorts of fast jets and attack helicopters will have had a helmet malfunction at some point?

The story sounds like the usual take a few points from the program and write a puff piece to sell papers.

 

[FoXtroT]

Were you at RIAT on Sunday? Fantastic surprise visit from the B-2!

WHAT!

****, my luck just keeps getting better. I was there on Saturday and there was crap weather. F22, Typhoon and F18 were all cancelled and the rest of the displays were all restricted.


Damn I'm pissed now! All this way and I miss that! Saturday's are always supposed to be the good airshow days!

 

[buka001]

Has the F-35A been returned to flight status yet? Last time I checked they grounded it due problems with the oxygen systems also seen in other aircraft in their inventory.



Source

I believe they have been released for flying (23rd of June or so). Only the F-35A's at Luke AFB were grounded. They still haven't resolved the cause of the hypoxia though.

 

[Blu82]

The cynical view is that the oxygen system will now get fixed quickly across the fleet since it is now in the F-35A.

 

[buka001]

Yeah I was there Saturday as well. Was casually chatting with the B-1 pilot (he took me into the cockpit). He then mentioned to me that there would be a surprise visit. I knew it had to be the B-2.

I did some avid researching and found a NOTAM for the B-2 to fly over Fairford at 14:10 on Sunday. Went online and bought a ticket for Sunday straight away. Best £55 I have ever spent. Wife was not so happy.

Weather was better. F-22 did a full display.

They had B-2 pilots at the B-1 on Sunday. Really good guys. Very interesting listening to them on how well the B-2 flies and so on.

 

[buka001]

I don't think I've ever seen it envisaged that the B was designed for vertical landings while fully loaded, the system has always been STO and SRVL. It's certainly the case with the UK aircraft.

Note the date:



https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...unds-for-uk-f-35-landing-modification-348294/

Did you know that SOPs on the Harrier was to dump all unused munitions on return to be able to land safely? (Which the B won't have to do).



A helmet malfunction somehow proves the F35 program is faulty? You realise that a number of military pilots on all sorts of fast jets and attack helicopters will have had a helmet malfunction at some point?

The story sounds like the usual take a few points from the program and write a puff piece to sell papers.

Fair point with regards to the weight issue regarding landings.

The issue with the helmets on the F-35, that is different to other aircraft helmet failures is that with the F-35 where everything is projected monochromatically through the visor (using camera on the helmet itself and the Distributed Aperture System, the pilot is literally 100% blind should this digital view fail. So no fail-safe.

 

[FoXtroT]

Fair point with regards to the weight issue regarding landings.

The issue with the helmets on the F-35, that is different to other aircraft helmet failures is that with the F-35 where everything is projected monochromatically through the visor (using camera on the helmet itself and the Distributed Aperture System, the pilot is literally 100% blind should this digital view fail. So no fail-safe.

He will still have instruments on his MFDs though.

 

[FoXtroT]

Yeah I was there Saturday as well. Was casually chatting with the B-1 pilot (he took me into the cockpit). He then mentioned to me that there would be a surprise visit. I knew it had to be the B-2.

I did some avid researching and found a NOTAM for the B-2 to fly over Fairford at 14:10 on Sunday. Went online and bought a ticket for Sunday straight away. Best £55 I have ever spent. Wife was not so happy.

Weather was better. F-22 did a full display.

They had B-2 pilots at the B-1 on Sunday. Really good guys. Very interesting listening to them on how well the B-2 flies and so on.

Lucky bugger!

I didn't want to miss anything so didn't go walking around, therefore no inside info from the pilots .

You living in the U.K. or just visiting as well?

 

[Arthur]

Speaking of demo, nice little fly at Paris Air Show last month.