Forum: F-35 milestones

The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program was completed January 18th, 2012 at Edwards AFB. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-06, an F-35A CTOL variant, launched at 17.05h PST and landed after sunset at 18.22h.

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I've never followed another program to watch it develop as the JSF does. So many things we take for granted when we always trained and flew "used" aircraft. Very Happy

Question, are the reflective strips just for the test aircraft or are they going to be on the production aircraft as well?

Last edited by spazsinbad on Jan 20, 2012 - 01:49 AM; edited 1 time in total

'Slime Lights' are for night formation so I guess they are stealthy slime also. GhostBusters! Very Happy

Slime 'Em!

How do Slime Lights work?

Some Slimey Photos here:
http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... ime#206709

My Fave: http://www.defenselink.mil/dodcmsshare/ ... M-009b.jpg

As youse can see the AFTERburners Power the Slimers (just kiddin'). Very Happy

These were not around in my day. One reduced the exterior lighting to 'nite' and got on with it - and turned off the anti collision light also. But I guess the airframe colour scheme was usually white which helped in dim lighting or cloud.

Apparently 'slime lights' are better for NVD and lights are 'electroluminescent'.

Thanks Spaz, the Slime Lights are apperantly made by Goodrich.

http://www.goodrich.com/gr-ext-templating/images/Goodrich%20Content/Business%20Content/Interiors/Products/Lighting%20Systems/Lighting%20Catalog/Lighting%20Systems%20-%20Any%20Other%20Equipment/10_0010_Formation_Lights.pdf

Thanks, so is all that stuff in the graphic above made by Goodrich?

They make all that stuff but I am not sure if they provide it for the F-35.

Double Post!

I wonder what "Reconnaissance Systems" refers to in the Goodrich graphic?

Pretty awesome pics at dusk.

Re: 'what Reconnaissance Systems refers to in the graphic'... My guess would be some eventual derivative of the DB-110 large-aperture pod currently equipped on the F-16 and F-15, which would probably protrude from the belly of the weapon bay somehow?

Or mounted on the center pylon

Last edited by spazsinbad on Jan 25, 2012 - 11:59 PM; edited 1 time in total

h/t to that SNAFUman: (solomon)

F-35 Performs First Night Flight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... LIsv9LJPfU

"Uploaded by LockheedMartinVideos on Jan 24, 2012
The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program was completed on Jan. 19, 2012 in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, launched at 5:05 p.m. PST and landed after sunset at 6:22 p.m."

It seems like AF-06 now wears the ED tailcode. It also says 461 FLTS.

Forum: F-35 milestones

First F-35 Night Flt completed