Forum: F-35 milestones

Quote:

First production-level F-35B arrives at NAS Patuxent River
09 Oct 2012

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - BF-17, part of the third lot of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP 3) F-35B Lightning II aircraft, arrives at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Oct. 4. BF-17 will temporarily add to the complement of F-35B and F-35C test aircraft at the F-35 Integrated Test Facility before heading to its destination at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter designed for use by U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., prior to delivery to the fleet. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

Source: http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fu ... mp;id=5140

BIG PIC: http://www.navair.navy.mil/img/uploads/ ... 59_005.jpg

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The headline begs the question, What makes it production level?

stereospace wrote:

The headline begs the question, What makes it production level?

I'm thinking because it's not a SDD jet. Hopefully these LRIP-3 jets will be easier to maintain than the earlier ones off the line - there has been some grumbling about amount of MX required by the current -Bs at Pax.

Quote:

I'm thinking because it's not a SDD jet.

Correct

maus92 wrote:

...Hopefully these LRIP-3 jets will be easier to maintain than the earlier ones off the line - there has been some grumbling about amount of MX required by the current -Bs at Pax.

Oh really? The B exceeded the end-of-the-year plan for test flights back in August. As it stands right now, the B is 20+% ahead of the end of the year plan. DMMH/FH for the B is in the low single digits and the MTTR for the B is less than the other two variants.

Grumbling is part of what aircraft maintainers do -- it's part of the job description. And they grumble loudest when they don't have enough to do. Whistle

There isn't much in the way of public available stats about current maintenance hours per flight hour for the F-35B (or the other versions,) so I'll accept your data as the latest info. There was concern noted at the September DAB meeting about the amount/costs associated with maintenance of the aircraft in general (not reported by variant.) Grumbling, sadly or maybe amusingly, seems to be a part of many job descriptions.

maus92 wrote:

...Grumbling, sadly or maybe amusingly, seems to be a part of many job descriptions.

Without question.

maus92 wrote:

...There was concern noted at the September DAB meeting about the amount/costs associated with maintenance of the aircraft in general (not reported by variant.)...

One of many fact-free conversations held in the building in recent months.