Forum: F-35 Lightning II

First F-35C Catapult Launch

Posted by Graham Warwick at 7/27/2011 3:59 PM CDT

F-35C carrier-variant test aircraft CF-3 has made its first catapult launch today (July 27) using the land-based steam catapult at NAS Lakehurst, where the US Navy's version of the JSF is undergoing carrier suitability testing.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/de ... d=blogDest

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Last edited by spazsinbad on Jul 27, 2011 - 11:45 PM; edited 1 time in total

Yeee Haaah Very Happy

BigPics: http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0 ... 7.Full.jpg

http://www.navair.navy.mil/img/uploads/ ... 59_002.jpg

Catapult launches F-35C for the first time

http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fu ... mp;id=4712

"NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, LAKEHURST, N.J. – The F-35C completed its first steam catapult launch July 27 marking another milestone toward initial ship trials in 2013.

Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch and Recovery Equipment) Brandon Barr used a TC-13 Mod 2 test steam catapult, representative of current fleet technology, launching F-35C test aircraft CF-3 into the sky.

“It was great to be able to be a part of this milestone in the F-35C test program,” said Navy test pilot Lt. Chris Tabert. “Due to the hard work of the entire test team, the event went very well and I look forward to seeing the airplane operate from the carrier.”

CF-3 is the designated carrier suitability testing aircraft, assigned to the F-35 integrated test facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Tabert is the most junior test pilot to fly any variant of the F-35, which reflects a deliberate shaping of the test force which balances experienced military and contractor test pilots with newly qualified test pilots with recent fleet experience.

“Our first trip here to Lakehurst went very smoothly because of the true collaboration and hard work from the integrated team,” said Tom Briggs, government air vehicle engineering manager. “We look forward to another productive visit and staying on track for initial ship trials.”

In addition to the catapult launches at varying power levels, the integrated test team will execute a test plan over three weeks to include dual-aircraft jet blast deflector testing and catapult launches using a degraded catapult configuration to measure the effects of steam ingestion on the aircraft.

The ability to degrade the catapult is unique to the test facilities at Lakehurst.

"We are pleased to have NAVAIR Lakehurst support the first F-35C steam catapult launch,” said Kathleen Donnelly, senior executive for Support Equipment and Aircraft, Launch and Recovery Equipment(ALRE). “Our dedicated personnel, along with our shipboard representative steam catapult, enable the Navy to have accurate and timely test data necessary to evaluate the compatibility of this critical weapons system with ALRE systems.”

The F-35C carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B variants. It has larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for slower catapult launch and landing approach speeds and deck impacts associated with the demanding carrier take-off and landing environment. The F-35C is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River prior to eventual delivery to the fleet."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkNZfu3EdvA

Awesome!!

Hmmmm , Mr Bill Sweetman will send a article to AW ?

seruriermarshal wrote:

Hmmmm , Mr Bill Sweetman will send a article to AW ?

I doubt Billy will want to report this, afterall it was a success and any success for the F-35 program is something that he hates to report on. Though saying that if he is asked to write an artcile on it he'll no doubt mention the success in the first paragraph followed by lots of snarky jibes about the program and finishing off with a list of previous problems, no matter how minor they may have been. Oh and he'll probably throw in some BS rumours to stir up trouble like he did with the 'partner nations won't get full stealth' nonsense. He's extremely predictable.

I could see some gain in putting CF-3 on the electromagnetic catapult prototype while it's there at Lakehurst, after the steam catapult trials are finished. I realize there's a time and place for everything, and CVN 78 won't go to sea for a few more years. But there could be some opportunities to check F-35C systems this "early" in development against the electromagnetic environment for more advance planning in case any issues are found. Thoughts?

That looks great.

@jetnerd, exellent idea! In fact I would ecourage you to post that idea under comments under the youtube video of the first cat shot. Thumb

jetnerd wrote:

I could see some gain in putting CF-3 on the electromagnetic catapult prototype while it's there at Lakehurst,... Thoughts?

Great minds think alike Idea

Amy replied; Since EMALs ins't yet fielded, they told me there was no immediate need to test that in the near term. Sad

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/de ... d=blogDest

Looks good, also seems to be able to carrier launch on military power? Don't see any signs of it using afterburner, very impressive for a single engine fighter.

We updated the first catapult link so it goes to the music video, which shows more detail than the original link. Added bonus: you can dance to it.

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/gallery_ ... item_id=64

--C1

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/598 ... 8fdd_o.jpg

Interesting that both rudders are deflected right in the still photo.