Forum: F-35 milestones

'johnwill' it will be great if, when available, any insights into the F-35C hook/arrest issues can be released here or online. Videos of arrest testing would be excellent! Very Happy

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Right, I'll ask my friend to see if he can forward any releasable vids.

Thanks JW! And another request please - it would be fascinating to know how the hook was changed please. A side drawing would be great, tah. Very Happy

I'm assuming you are speaking of the F-35C. I've already asked him for that, but will remind him.

Yes, F-35C hook please - thanks again.

Looking for F-35C arrest testing found this prelude perhaps:

ALRE Readiness Summit held at Lakehurst Apr 19, 2012

http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fu ... mp;id=4977

LAKEHURST, N.J. -- On Wednesday, April 18, an Aircraft Launch and Recovery (ALRE) Readiness Summit meeting was held at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Lakehurst on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst....

...The purpose of the summit was to discuss and provide updates on the ALRE systems that are developed and managed by NAVAIR as they relate to fleet readiness. According to Architzel, “the catapults and arresting gears on our carriers must continue to work so consistently, that our pilots never need to give a thought as to the reliability of the equipment we provide them.”

During the one day summit, attendees discussed ALRE metrics and issues, visited Prototyping & Manufacturing, examined the MK 7 Arresting Gear, toured the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training facility, the Aviation Data Management and Control System and Carrier Analysis labs, the Aircraft Carrier Aviation Integration Test facility, surveyed the Expeditionary Airfield Matting facility, visited the Runway Arrested Landing Site and Jet Blast Deflector, Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear test sites and observed the compact swaging machine."

F-35 boss: We’re getting it right, just give us time By Philip Ewing Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

http://www.dodbuzz.com/2012/05/08/f-35- ... e-us-time/

"There’s nothing wrong with the F-35 Lightning II that old fashioned engineering can’t fix, its program boss told Senate lawmakers on Tuesday — the only question is how long it’ll take.

In a genial session with three members of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s air-land panel, Vice Adm. David Venlet said “technical and cost issues certainly exist” with Lockheed Martin’s jet of tomorrow, the largest defense program in history.

They include the pilot’s helmet continuing to fall short of spec; problems with the tailhook on the Navy’s C version; electronic warfare “antenna quality;” and “buffet loads in flight,” Venlet said.

But — “Every issue we have in view today is very much in the category of normal development for fighters — tactical aircraft. Good old fashioned engineering is going to take care of every one of those and we will work on those hard enough that they’re deemed good enough by the fleet.”...

...And another witness, Vice Adm. Walter Skinner, a senior Navy Department weapons-buyer, said there’s still of lot of work ahead figuring out what’s wrong with the C’s tailhook. Although Venlet has said before that the hook problem was just one of those things you discover when you’re developing an airplane, engineers don’t quite know what they’re in for, Skinner said.

“The hook not engaging has happened to other aircraft besides the F-35,” he said. “We’ve gone through initial fault trees for that occurance, we’re still in analysis, we’ll have a preliminary design review at end of next month, at which time we’ll be able to ascertain the scope of the fix, the cost, and if there will be a schedule penalty associated with implementation.”

So there are still many hurdles, but the bottom line, said Venlet, is that the F-35 has until fiscal year 2016 to continue with its tests. “If it all stays within the family of normal fighter development,” he said, “we have ability to stay on schedule and on cost.”

If it doesn’t, DoD may delay buying more airplanes to punish Lockheed, but the overall program will continue as it always has."

Video may explain some issues about F-35C testing at Lakehurst and whatnot.

NAVAIR Waypoints: Lakehurst, NJ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3chssQ ... ure=relmfu

"Uploaded by NAVAIRSYSCOM on Mar 1, 2011
NAVAIR Waypoints focuses on the history, cultures, facilities, technology, and people of each NAVAIR site. This episode spotlights Lakehurst, NJ. Take a look."

F-35C HOOK testing seems to have slipped to next year according to...

Not home safely yet By Murdo Morrison on May 28, 2012

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/fligh ... y-yet.html

"The US Department of Defense's gargantuan tri-service F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme could be on the verge of solving many of the technical problems that have dogged it since the jets started flying.

Lockheed Martin says it will soon start to test solutions to vexing problems with the aircraft's vital helmet-mounted display system, adding that those modifications will clear up imagery lag, jittery imagery, and problems with night-vision acuity.

Lockheed has also redesigned the US Navy version's tail-hook, which previously could not catch an arresting cable on the carrier deck. If everything goes as planned, the new hook will begin testing next year.

The company says it has added resources and schedule to deal with software problems that might pop up. Pentagon officials cite software as their single biggest worry on the programme. Meanwhile, instructor pilots at Eglin AFB, Florida, have started their conversion to the new type. If the trend holds, it could be a sign the F-35 programme is getting back on track.

But there are potential pitfalls. Testing is entering the challenging high angle of attack portion of the flight envelope. Weapons separation and strenuous mission systems testing will follow. If problems are found, those could force expensive redesigns that could further delay a programme that is already grossly over its original cost projections and years behind schedule.

(This article first appeared as the lower Comment piece in 29 May issue of Flight International)"

To fix the hook problem - any idea what the actual changes are?
I guess it is more than just small fixes (like hook profile) which should not take that long to implement and test.

Previous Page 12 (plus work backwards) on this thread - scroll down - has the information but who knows - it ain't fixed until it is fixed.

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopi ... t-165.html

" the new hook will begin testing next year" vs "Burbage said the company is waiting for the new parts and believes a new round of testing can begin this summer"
"next year" or "this summer"?

You decide.

Maybe it's the difference between LM testing fit/form, & function and the USN testing "official" carrier qualification tests?

Of all the technical challanges facing the F-35 program the tail hook problem gives me the most worry.

Here is an article from by Dave Majumdar regarding fixes to the F-35.

F-35 problems on their way to being fixed

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/f-35-problems-on-their-way-to-being-fixed-372074/

Quote:

One major issue that has recently popped up on the US Navy's F-35C variant is that the aircraft's tail-hook has had to be redesigned. That is because the existing design has failed to catch an arresting cable during trials. Lockheed is working on a new improved hook design that should fix the problem.

"We have modified the hook pointwith a lower center of gravity," says Steve O'Bryan, Lockheed's vice president for F-35 programme integration and business development. Additionally, "we've redesigned the hold-down damper."

The new design is scheduled for its preliminary design review in "the summer." That will be followed by a critical design review in the fourth quarter.

After the new hook design undergoes shore-based qualification trails, the F-35C will undergo sea trials on a carrier in late 2013 or early 2014.

Forum: F-35 milestones

F-35C Lands at Lakehurst For Testing