Forum: F-35 Lightning II

AA-1 flew today...gear down? 15 minute flight?

http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php/topic,689.msg183417.html#msg183417

??

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Ztex wrote:

AA-1 flew today...gear down? 15 minute flight?

http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php/topic,689.msg183417.html#msg183417

??

Ya, they swapped landing gear for some tests.

Yup. The test was planned that way.

so what's different with this landing gear?

lamoey wrote:

so what's different with this landing gear?

Nothing - it's the same gear, there was no 'swap'. But, yes, it was a dedicated gear test, and the short mission was as planned.

Good to hear!

As always, thanks for the info.

Z

Newbie Joined: Feb 26, 2008 Posts: 12 Status: Offline

It was a test of the alternate gear extension capability.

First Maintainers for Lockheed Martin F-35 Heading for Test Sites

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The first group of maintenance
crews for the F-35 Lightning II have successfully completed classroom
instruction and certification training in preparation for F-35 test-site
stand up at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Naval Air Station Patuxent
River, Md.

"F-35 flight testing will quickly begin escalating as more and more
aircraft come off the line, and we're pleased that our maintainers will be
poised at the test sites to keep all the F-35s in top flying condition,"
said Kimberly Gavaletz, Lockheed Martin vice president of F-35 Autonomic
Logistics/Global Sustainment.

In the late May/early June time frame, the first F-35A conventional
takeoff and landing (CTOL) test aircraft will deploy temporarily to Edwards
Air Force Base for expanded flight test activities. The aircraft will
return to Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT) Fort Worth plant this summer. The
first F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft will transfer
to Naval Air Station Patuxent River by early 2009, where it will begin
long-term STOVL-mode flight testing.

F-35 flight-line mechanics from Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney and
the United States and United Kingdom military services completed systems
training and task certifications for the F-35 CTOL and STOVL variants,
including 27 separate pre-deployment certification courses. The training,
conducted under the direction of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman,
covers vehicle systems, propulsion, avionics, fiber optics, low observable
(stealth), the Autonomic Logistics Information System
(maintenance/prognostics/support/logistics) and other aspects of the
aircraft and its associated systems.

Approximately 500 certified maintainers will be assigned to the 13
flight-test aircraft that will deploy to Edwards and Patuxent River over
the next five years. The first class combining students assigned to both
test sites concluded on April 11.

The first F-35A has completed 40 flights and has exceeded performance
and reliability expectations. The aircraft is currently in a scheduled
period of maintenance and software updates that will enable an expanded
flight envelope. All 19 flight-test and ground-test aircraft are in
production flow or on the flightline, and assembly has begun on the first
two production-model F-35s.

The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation stealth fighter.
Three F-35 variants derived from a common design, developed together and
using the same sustainment infrastructure worldwide will replace at least
13 types of aircraft for 11 nations initially, making the Lightning II the
most economical fighter program in history.

Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial
partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable
F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE
Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced
technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007
sales of $41.9 billion.

F-35 and Lightning II are trademarks of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

For additional information, visit our Web site:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com

F-35 photographs and information also available at:
http://www.teamjsf.com

Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Overview of the AA-1 test flights