Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Wasp prepares for Joint Strike Fighter

USS WASP
By Petty Officer 1st Class Justin K. Thomas


ATLANTIC OCEAN - The crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) is preparing the ship to become the first at-sea test platform for the U.S. Navy’s test variant of the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Recently, four members of Wasp’s Air Department traveled to one of the Navy’s premier test facilities at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., to help give them a good idea of what WASP can expect when testing begins. The group consisted of Cmdr. Stephen McKone, Wasp’s Air Boss; Lt. Michael Curcio, Wasp’s Aircraft Handling Officer and F-35B Ship Integration Project Officer; Ens. Maguel Brooks, Wasp’s Air Bos’n; and Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler) Richard McCray.

“The F-35B is a really unique aircraft,” said Lt. Curcio. “It possesses characteristics on par with our legacy fighter/attack aircraft; it is the first Short Take Off/Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft to possess both stealth and supersonic capability. This aircraft alone has the potential to completely revitalize the utility of large-deck amphibious platforms by adding significant strike capability to their resumes.”

The F-35B will replace the Department of Navy’s current Vertical and /or Short Take Off/Landing (VSTOL) aircraft, the AV-8B Harrier. The Harrier has been in the U.S. arsenal since 1984 and has been extensively used during both Persian Gulf Wars. It is also assigned to Marine Air Groups (MAGs) and Marine Expeditionary Units to support Marines on the ground and to facilitate amphibious assault operations around the globe.

During Wasp’s four-month maintenance availability conducted earlier this year, major modifications were completed to various elements of the ship including the flight deck and combat systems equipment. These modifications included moving the flight deck’s “Tram Line,” or yellow line, which is used by pilots to guide them when performing short landings, closer to the port side of the ship. Also, the aft NATO Sea sparrow missile launcher mount was removed and replaced with a “dummy” launcher.

“The ship has had a few physical changes made to it,” said Curcio. “Some of these are necessary to accommodate the physical differences between the Harrier and the F-35B, while others will help the engineers to collect data on both the ship's effect on the aircraft and the aircraft's effect on the ship. For example, the flight deck tramline was shifted slightly to port to accommodate the F-35B's larger wingspan, while the operational aft NATO Sea Sparrow launcher was replaced with an a test launcher laced with sensors to measure heat, vibrations, overpressure, and sound levels.”

Many places aboard Wasp will be tested for a wide range of reasons in support of the F-35B. Some of these spaces will be tested for heat stress and other hazards.

“The Engineering Log Room will be looked at closely by the flight test engineers,” said Curcio. “The area above the log room is one of the primary landing spots for the aircraft and will be subjected to the most stress. We want to know exactly how much heat and sound is transmitted through the flight deck and into that space to see if there will be any issues for those crew members who regularly work in there.”

In addition to the ship itself being prepared for this momentous occasion, Wasp Aviation Boatswain’s Mates (AB) from Air Department will also attend training at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

“We will take a contingent of AB’s to Pax River with us to work with the real-life jets that will be flying out,” said Curcio. “So they can practice every evolution that could possibly happen on the flight deck, both planned and contingency, during flight test operations.

According to Curcio, only five F-35B test aircraft have been delivered to flight test operations at Pax River from the factory. These prototypes are the product of millions of man hours of work and represent the full ingenuity and industrial strength of the United States.

“Though they cost a lot, one cannot really put a price tag on the capability they will bring to the fleet,” said Curcio. “They are truly priceless and the goal is to have absolutely no surprises when it comes to operating them at sea. The Wasp Air Department team will be prepared to address any situation, routine or emergency.”

As Wasp and her crew prepare to help test one of the worlds most technologically advanced jet fighters, Curico realizes that this will be a tremendous team effort.

“With any new piece of equipment being tested, there will some road blocks,” said Curico. “Since the crew will be working together on this, Wasp will be writing the book on how to operate the Joint Strike Fighter at sea.”

Source: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/74178/wasp ... irWVWFe1g8

Wasp Begins Aviation PALSCERT
Release Date: 7/31/2011 1:14:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Justin K. Thomas, USS Wasp Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) operations department began certifying the ship's Precision Approach Landing System (PALS) July 11 taking an important step in preparing the ship to be deployment ready.

PALS is essential to the safe landing of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft at sea. More importantly, the certification of the system signifies the ship is ready to execute the Navy's maritime strategy.

"PALS is one of the most crucial parts of flight, we are responsible for a safe final approach of aircraft," said Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Roman Jimenez. "PALS works by beaming a signal to the aircraft and the aircraft acknowledging the signal it received, and following them to land safely."

Air traffic controllers operate several types of radar on board WASP, most notably the AN/SPN 35 and the AN/SPN 41. Both radars can be found on amphibious assault ships throughout the fleet.

"These radars are very accurate," said Jimenez. "The AN/SPN 41 for example has two separate transmitters: one for azimuth and the other for elevation. Together, they digitally tell the computers in the aircraft how to land on the flight deck."

The AN/SPN 35, is a precision approach radar Air Traffic Controllers use to talk with pilots. It also allows for the Amphibious Air Traffic Control center to automatically acquire, control, and land an aircraft on LHDs/LHAs under severe motion or weather conditions.

"The [AN/SPN] 35 takes over near the end of approach," said Jimenez. "It takes over and provides detailed information so the helicopter or [V-22] Osprey can land."

Not only is participating in PALSCERT an essential stepping stone for the ship to have safe flight operations, it gives WASP's Air Traffic Controllers a sense of accomplishment and more time to practice their given trade.

"It's been a while since we got a chance to land 'birds,'" said Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Demetric White. It is a spectacular feeling to do our jobs. We're one step closer to being able to do our part in defense of our country."

Although PALS certification continues for WASP, Sailors from the ship's Amphibious Air Traffic Control Center (AATCC) worked with those in charge of flight deck operations, who are going through Aviation Certification (AVCERT), and together gained certification to land and launch helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft on the flight deck. As the sea trials continue, Wasp will work to gain the certifications necessary to launch and recover Harrier jet aircraft as well, helping lead to her goal status of surge ready deployer.

The PALS is integrated into the deck ops. testing for the F-35B later this fall.

Source: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=61748

Trouble is these radar systems do not lock onto the F-35 very well - if at all - however I guess the special radar reflectors will be fitted to the F-35B as noted in another thread. Hence new system soon called JPALS is needed for F-35C and UAVs.

Wasp Begins Aviation PALSCERT...