BF-1 First Flight

Yoram777 · by **Yoram777** » 10 Jun 2008, 03:46

OMG I heard BF-1 made its first flight yesterday??
Is this true :shock:

If not when will it be? It could be any day now right?

Asif · by **Asif** » 10 Jun 2008, 07:48

Yoram777 wrote:OMG I heard BF-1 made its first flight yesterday??
Is this true

If not when will it be? It could be any day now right?

I think your talking about the recent tether testing carried out. Read F-35B completes STOVL propulsion ground test, plus a video of the testing is linked in this thread F-35B Comes to life

However according to Janes this flight might have happened.

Janes wrote:F-35B nears flight test
By Caitlin Harrington
04 June 2008

The F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) variant came a step closer to an imminent first flight on 25 May after completing a series of recent ground tests in Fort Worth, Texas.

Prime Contractor Lockheed Martin is gearing up for a flight test of the F-35B demonstrator aircraft, known as BF-1, possibly before 6 June, according to Lockheed Martin spokesman John Smith.

Lockheed Martin will conduct the first flight of the BF-1 after completing continuing taxi tests, which are designed to prove that the wheels are performing correctly, the aircraft is responding to the throttle and the breaks are working.

Smith said the BF-1 has already completed taxi tests at speeds as high as 65 kt. An attempt to taxi at 80 kt on 30 May caused a wheel to blow out; that test was due to be conducted again soon, followed by a final high-speed test at 110 kt.

Once the BF-1 has completed its inaugural flight, the US Department of Defense is expected to release funding for the purchase of six F-35B aircraft for the US Marine Corps.

The initial flight of BF-1 will not, however, involve any operations in STOVL mode. STOVL tests will not be attempted in the air until late this year or early in 2009, according to Smith.

source: http://www.janes.com/news/defence/syste ... _2_n.shtml

LMAggie · by **LMAggie** » 10 Jun 2008, 15:43

Not yet, but soon.

msupepper · by **msupepper** » 10 Jun 2008, 17:11

I'm hearing June 11...tomorrow!!!

LMAggie · by **LMAggie** » 10 Jun 2008, 18:00

msupepper wrote:I'm hearing June 11...tomorrow!!!

I'll just say this...I'm glad the skies will be clear tomorrow...

Ft. Worth forecast

brancwp · by **brancwp** » 10 Jun 2008, 21:30

I have seen publically releasable info that says yes the flight is on right now for 11am tomorrow (wed Lunch).

mcashe · by **mcashe** » 10 Jun 2008, 22:34

brancwp wrote:I have seen publically releasable info that says yes the flight is on right now for 11am tomorrow (wed Lunch).

I can confirm this also. 10AM CST.

Lightndattic · by **Lightndattic** » 11 Jun 2008, 13:59

Any resources available to the public to watch this?

LMAggie · by **LMAggie** » 11 Jun 2008, 14:43

Lightndattic wrote:Any resources available to the public to watch this?

Not unless you're in the area and can make it to the vicinity of the runway. If you're in DFW, I suggest going to the look-out point on whilte settlement road. As with AA:1, videos and the works will be released following the flight. For those who don't know, the pilot is Graham Tomlinson (GT) from BAE. Good luck to GT and BF:1 today!

brancwp · by **brancwp** » 11 Jun 2008, 15:05

GT is in the cockpit. Getting ready to go. A good viewing area is the old White Settlement Sam's Club, walk across the street to the FLight Line.

mcashe · by **mcashe** » 11 Jun 2008, 15:14

It's pretty cool that LMAero provides access to all LM Employees to view it live.

mcashe · by **mcashe** » 11 Jun 2008, 15:57

She's leaving the hangar now. Heading to the flight line

Ztex · by **Ztex** » 11 Jun 2008, 16:25

Good luck to all!

Smithsguy · by **Smithsguy** » 11 Jun 2008, 16:27

I hear it is in the air currently, flight scheduled for an hour.

falcon_mr.b · by **falcon_mr.b** » 11 Jun 2008, 16:38

Smithsguy wrote:I hear it is in the air currently, flight scheduled for an hour.

Yep, it is in the air. Impressive take-off. Family model Viper had to kick in AB to catch up.