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Enthusiast Joined: Dec 13, 2006 Posts: 52 Status: Offline

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.

F-16.net Editor Joined: Sep 23, 2003 Posts: 2862

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.

Enthusiast Joined: Dec 13, 2006 Posts: 52 Status: Offline

Good to hear!

As always, thanks for the info.

Z

Enthusiast Joined: Feb 26, 2008 Posts: 25 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

Enthusiast Joined: Dec 13, 2006 Posts: 52 Status: Offline

Any word on AA-1 flights this week? (today?)

I had heard that it may be out and about...

Z

Enthusiast Joined: Dec 13, 2006 Posts: 52 Status: Offline

Well...the answer is...AA-1 flew this afternoon...

any word of further flights or departure for Edwards?

Thanks
Z

Enthusiast Joined: Feb 26, 2008 Posts: 25 Status: Offline

Jon Beesley flew AA-1 May 22 following the 50-hour engineering inspection work of the last two months. During his one hour flight (#41), Jon conducted a MIL power takeoff, flying qualities regression testing, doublets & sideslips, and a simulated emergency descent.
Graham Tomlinson is suppose to fly it twice this week.
BF-1 could fly as early as Friday.

Elite 1K Joined: Aug 01, 2006 Posts: 1003 Status: Offline

brancwp wrote:

Jon Beesley flew AA-1 May 22 following the 50-hour engineering inspection work of the last two months. During his one hour flight (#41), Jon conducted a MIL power takeoff, flying qualities regression testing, doublets & sideslips, and a simulated emergency descent.
Graham Tomlinson is suppose to fly it twice this week.
BF-1 could fly as early as Friday.

Uh... it took two months to do 50 hours worth of inspection work? I would have thought that 50 hours is what you pull in a week!

Elite 1K Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1152

I think the "50-hour" is referring to an inspection after 50 hours of flight.

Enthusiast Joined: Feb 26, 2008 Posts: 25 Status: Offline

Yes 50 hour inspection and some software updates. Lots of things completely taken apart and inspected for wear and tear.

AA1 Flight 42 Graham Tomlinson was airborne at 10:32 today for his maiden flight in AA-1 and landed at 11:07 for a 0.6 hour flight.

Enthusiast Joined: Dec 13, 2006 Posts: 52 Status: Offline

brancwp wrote:

BF-1 could fly as early as Friday.

Woot!

Any heads up as to when this is supposed to happen would be nice....

Thanks for the info!

Z

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Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Overview of the AA-1 test flights