F-35 program updates

Does anybody know how many people have flown the F-35 now? Who has the most hours?

And what is Jon Beesley doing? I saw him in a program about the F-22 and he said that testing was so hard work that he didn't know if he had it in him to do it again.

Unfortunately if Mr Gates gets his way the far superior and proven F-22 will be out of production before the facts come out on the F-35. The F-35 unit cost will be equal or greater than the F-22 while being extremely less capable than the F-22. This will be shocking news to hard working Americans who were sold on the low cost F-35 propaganda.

The USN and Lockheed Martin are drinking their own bath water on the proposed cost and capabilities of the F-35.

There is an end-game for F-22 production. The F-22 production should continue until the Air Force has approximately 300 and Japan has 60. If you are an American wouldn't you rather China realize that someone close to them has a very capable adversarial weapon rather than leaving it to our country to fly across the world when the trouble starts. More than likely the US will have to also engage but at least we wouldn't be alone. The F-35 does not even have a role in this scenario. The F-35 joins the fight later by design, if there is a "later".

I'm estimating that by the time 800 F-35's are built the production will cease due to a much less costly (true this time) and greatly capable UAV availability to replace the bloated F-35.

I'm estimating that by the time 800 F-35's are built the production will cease due to a much less costly (true this time) and greatly capable UAV availability to replace the bloated F-35.[/quote]


I doubt UCAV's would be mature enough to replace Tactical Fighters in such a short time. Regardless, such a argument doesn't belong here.......

Why first for the B and then for the other variants? Is it because we're going to export the B first (to the British)?

The B model is the first scheduled for IOC in 2012, then the A in 2013 and C in 2015.

When the B goes IOC, it will be with Block 2 software as it's primary role is CAS. They will get the other block upgrades as they are developed.

Tinito_16 wrote:Why first for the B and then for the other variants? Is it because we're going to export the B first (to the British)?

The first F-35 user will be the USMC, not the Royal Navy.
But yes, the testing takes place first on F-35B as it is the first variant to enter service.

-- Shaken - out --

Any news on when AF-1 will fly? It has been over 7 months since it rolled out.

Yikes

The secretary should have had a good view of the '35 parking lot with all of the A,B,C '35s sitting around getting ramp time. BF-01 is getting late in the month, delayed by ???????? Hope PW had a good fix on the turbine disc/ blade issue, and the new S/W rev. is ready for VSTOL. Waiting for public news of the trip to Pax River. Best Wishes.

How in the world do you guys know so much on the F35. Hell I work on them on the flightline and you guys are way ahead of me!
BTW, great photo ZTEX!!

We are not Russian spy...

xb1maintainer wrote:How in the world do you guys know so much on the F35. Hell I work on them on the flightline and you guys are way ahead of me!
BTW, great photo ZTEX!!

People do their homework .

XB1 sometimes I get lucky that's all...and thanks for the comment on the photo...although I'm disappointed in the quality of it..I was fighting my camera for control...hehe



Speaking of homework...

Did BF-1 roll today?

spazsinbad wrote:F-35B Back in the Air for STOVL Tests Posted by Graham Warwick at 9/8/2009

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/de ... 7c18aba2c0
OR
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/ ... 090909.xml

"The first STOVL F-35B, aircraft BF-1, returned to the air with a hour-long flight on Friday, restarting the countdown to the first vertical landing - in October would be my guess. BF-1 was down for an extended period of modifications resulting from previous flight and hover-pit tests, and proved reluctant to return to flight.".......

What an ugly duckling of an airplane. Fat, bulbous, stubby... All the qualities the combined US Air Force's need in an air superiority fighter. Probably optimized for transonic rather than anything else. Isn't going to be a good replacement for the A-10's as it lacks the fortitude of that airplane. Probably relies on EOTS to kills vehicles at distance... Which of course means lots more friendly fire incidents. A box kite would be an improvement over the Marines Harrier, so its going to be a good thing for them. With its weight and aerodynamics its going to be outclassed in low alt fights compared to the -16 and a few other birds across the pond. But gun fights are long gone so no need to worry about that. At mid&high alt and 50% fuel it may turn into a Ferrari however. But again, gun fights are long gone.

spazsinbad wrote:F-35B Back in the Air for STOVL Tests Posted by Graham Warwick at 9/8/2009

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/de ... 7c18aba2c0
OR
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/ ... 090909.xml

"The first STOVL F-35B, aircraft BF-1, returned to the air with a hour-long flight on Friday, restarting the countdown to the first vertical landing - in October would be my guess. BF-1 was down for an extended period of modifications resulting from previous flight and hover-pit tests, and proved reluctant to return to flight.".......

Did anyone else notice that in the first video when the female calls out "Mach 1" it doesn't appear that the F-35 is in AB (based on nozzle position and lack of flame). If that's really the case, it would be interesting, but not all that suprising.