Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Anyone have pics/info on F-35 Boarding Ladder please? Here is wot I found so far....

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopi ... r-asc.html

'Happy_Gilmore' said "...all other F-35's other than AA-1 have a really cool built in boarding ladder system. In an emergency they just jump over the side, it's actually practiced and timed."

Graphic from:
Integration of Ground and Flight Testing on F-35 Lightning II Program
04 December 2007 - J. B. Yates - Lockheed Martin Aeronautics:

http://www.asipcon.com/2008/proceedings ... _Yates.pdf (1.5Mb)

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It is where the picture says it is. Its basically a telescoping mechanism that folds up on the side of the fuselage. Pretty simple.

LMAggie, thanks. Meanwhile I found this pic from an LM PDF (2004). Does this old pic look like what the ladder looks like now?

Pic from: http://www.jsf.mil/downloads/documents/ ... Review.PDF (1.5Mb)

The concept is the same but the production version does have some distinct differences. Good find none the less.

Please tell me that is an April Fool.

Nothing I have ever seen illustrates the weight penalty of LO on an everyday tactical aircraft quite like that.

Yeah the pilot's first name is 'April' - FOOL! Very Happy

underhill wrote:

Please tell me that is an April Fool.

Nothing I have ever seen illustrates the weight penalty of LO on an everyday tactical aircraft quite like that.

Why?

Now, the boarding ladder on the A-12 was a complete cluster f.

LMAggie - I can only imagine, looking at the A-12.

The point - at a certain level of LO, things that are normally simple become complicated and require powered, latched, and treated doors.

I would guess that the designers also take advantage of the door to provide an access point for other maintenance services.

That's kinda what I was getting at. If LO had there way, there would be no onboard ladder. Supportability drove this design. But even so, it's just one of MANY access panels designed into the airframe for supportabilty and maintainability.

Here's what the outside looks like now, anyway:

That's gotta be better than this sight on a carrier deck...

(Photos: Lockheed Martin)

Ztex wrote:

That's gotta be better than this sight on a carrier deck...

(Photos: Lockheed Martin)

The boarding (built in) ladder on a stealth jet is a moot point.
If you’re smart enough to be selected to fly the jet, you should be physically fit enough to get in without a ladder/stand in an emergency. (that’s the only time a cockpit entry device may not be available)

Look at ztecs second picture! weapons bay door to wing, to backbone, then to cockpit! HMMMM maybe thats why the canopy opens BMW style?

Come on guys, the boarding ladder on the F-4 Phanton was LO, just put your foot in the hole and press down on the button, it's really not very complicated. VarkVet made a huge point though LOL.

HG & VV, are you suggesting that it is OK for the pilot to walk over the airframe? : "weapons bay door to wing, to backbone, then to cockpit! HMMMM maybe thats why the canopy opens BMW style?" I guess the USN says the LO is 'bulletproof' - why not pilot proof? Very Happy