Forum: General F-35 Forum

2/28/2012 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- Officials at the Aeronautical Systems Center here issued a Military Flight Release today that will allow the F-35A Lightning II fighter to begin initial operations at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

This decision was reached after an airworthiness board conducted an assessment that evaluated potential risks and the corresponding mitigation actions to conduct unmonitored flights.

Flying the Air Force variant of the joint strike fighter will increase pilot and maintainer familiarity with the aircraft, exercise the logistics infrastructure and continue to develop aircraft maturity. These initial F-35A flights will be limited, scripted, conducted within the restrictions and stipulations of the MFR and flown by qualified pilots, officials said.

"The Air Force, Joint Strike Fighter Program Office and other stakeholders have painstakingly followed established risk acceptance and mitigation processes to ensure the F-35A is ready," said Gen. Donald Hoffman, the commander of Air Force Materiel Command, the parent organization of ASC. "This is an important step for the F-35A and we are confident the team has diligently balanced the scope of initial operations with system maturity."

The assessment was conducted with airworthiness engineering subject matter experts within ASC and was fully coordinated with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, Air Education and Training Command and other expert participants. The Air Force is confident the aircraft is ready to fly in a safe and efficient manner, Hoffman said.

(Courtesy of 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs.)

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123291745

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Same story here: http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-18387.html (scroll down)

Salute!

Will try to do more fishing on the Bayou and on the base to get a peek.

I figure some FCF's this week and then two-ship checkouts next week. The birds have been doing taxi drills, and the wrenchbenders are eager to see their jets fly.

Will provide PIREPs.

Gums sends...

USAF Reducing Possible JSF Basing Locations Mar 2, 2012 By Amy Butler

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/ ... dline=USAF Reducing Possible JSF Basing Locations

"...Meanwhile, Schwartz says the first F-35A flight at Eglin AFB, Fla., is slated for next week. This is a milestone for the program as nine F-35s have been at the base on the ground awaiting clearance to fly. That clearance was issued by the Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center on Feb. 28. Officials there said there were limitations to the flight profile but cited operational security as a reason for not articulating what they are.

Schwartz says initial flights of the F-35A and B will be conducted by one U.S. Air Force test pilot and one U.S. Marine Corps test pilot. Initially, they will conduct local area operations flights and gradually add to the flight profiles to reach portions of the syllabus that can be taught to pilot trainers.

This will continue until Air Education and Training Center Commander Gen. Edward Rice, Jr., is confident the wing at Eglin can conduct enough routine sorties to support early training requirements. His approval will be required to begin formal training."

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... ns-369112/

USAF training command set to start F-35 operations; tomorrow 06Mar12

By Dave Majumdar

US Air Force operational testers will start receiving their first Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters at Edwards AFB in California in late June, a service official says.

According to the official, the 31st Test and Evaluation Sqn will initially receive four aircraft, with more to follow later.

If flight operations at Eglin AFB, Florida - scheduled to start on 6 March - ramp-up quickly to begin pilot training, the official says he is optimistic the operational testers can start flying by the end of June.

The unit will initially start with local area flight operations designed to familiarise pilots with the F-35 and help with developmental test efforts. They would also help prepare for formal initial operational testing, which is still some years away, the official says.

In September, the USAF's 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada will begin to receive its first aircraft. Initially, the squadron will receive four aircraft, with more as time progresses.

Meanwhile, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) chief Gen Edward Rice approved test pilots to begin flight operations at Eglin AFB on 2 March. The air force had earlier issued a military flight release that would allow the F-35 to fly from 28 February.

Initially, two qualified test pilots - air force Lt Col Eric Smith and US Marine Corps Maj Joseph Bachmann - will take to the air on "6 March", weather permitting.

"GUMS, I hope you are taking your camera out tomorrow! Very Happy

"

The veteran test pilots will fly a series of local area flights to gauge the readiness of the 33rd Fighter Wing's new F-35As and assess the robustness of the unit's maintenance procedures.

When the aircraft and maintenance procedures prove they are up to the task of running a full-scale training syllabus, the AETC will authorise the wing to start spinning-up new instructor pilots and students.

Smith and Bachmann will serve as instructors for the rest of the wing's aviators. The USAF, Marine Corps and US Navy have assembled some of their best, most experienced pilots to form the initial cadre at the 33rd Fighter Wing.

A Marine Corps official said the service hopes to have its short take-off and vertical landing F-35B variant also flying at Eglin AFB by the end of the month.

Salute!

TNX, Neptune.

Went out today and nothing special.

I'll head out Tuesday and maybe try to hook up with one of the 68th dudes I met several weeks ago. Don't know about the camera, but I'll take it.

This will be a "camp out"/ "tail gate", as I don't know the scheduled takeoff times. Weather will be perfect for an FCF or two, and I think that's what the schedule will be, as the birds haven't lifted off for a few months. The taxi drill is good, but nothing like actual wheels in the well. I did that in the SLUF and the Viper, but after prolonged grounding we still did FCF's and such before releasing all the jets for basic training flights.

I'll report back Tuesday night.

Gums sends...

Forum: General F-35 Forum

Air Force issues flight release for Eglin AFB F-35A