F-16.net

Hi all,
it is known that the F-35A has the AAR intake on the top for boom refueling. But what about the F-35B/C? The USMC and USN as well as many other nations are used to probes for the drogue/basket system. I suppose the B/C will get a retractable probe in the right forward fuselage, but has this been confirmed? And is there any chance that F-35As will be offered with this for export?

F-16.net Sponsor

This message from our sponsor will disappear if you log on as a member.

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 1034 Status: Offline

The X-35B still had the receptacle on the spine of the aircraft...Not sure of the plane for production aircraft though.

Enthusiast Joined: Sep 13, 2006 Posts: 34 Status: Offline

checksixx wrote:

The X-35B still had the receptacle on the spine of the aircraft...Not sure of the plane for production aircraft though.

As I recall, CTOL and CV will have a boom refuel system, and STOVL will get the refuel probe. My company handles the hydraulic system, but that's not my circuit (I'm currently working 3BSD). I'll confirm on Monday.

F-35A: Air Force style.
F-35B & F-35C: Navy style probe & drogue.

Senior member Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 347

Why don't they just put the probe on the A model also? Wouldn't that save cost? Besides, drogue refueling looks easier, rather than having to get plugged without having any say in the matter. Is Lockheed Martin looking for input from line drivers or are they going at this from a test pilot/engineer perspective?

From what I've been told by Boomers, fuel can be transferred much faster using the "flying boom" versus the probe/drogue system. They hated refueling C-130s using the probe/drogue because it would take so long...

Then again he said if he turned on all four pumps in the tanker, he could blow the wing tanks right off a Viper. Four pumps are only used for big aircraft like BUFFs and C-5s; jets with BIG tanks.

I believe he was using two pumps at the time for the transfer to a Viper. Not sure what the fuel flow was?

Elite 1K Joined: Jan 31, 2004 Posts: 1533 Status: Offline

SnakeHandler wrote:

Why don't they just put the probe on the A model also? Wouldn't that save cost? Besides, drogue refueling looks easier, rather than having to get plugged without having any say in the matter.

Try snaggin' the basket at night, in bad weather, and with some turbulence. Try it again with the same conditions but comin' back from a strike when you're BINGO fuel, fatigued, or still hopped up on adrenaline. Not somethin' I'd like to try and I don't even fly! I would think that keepin' formation with the tanker and letting someone worry about pluggin YOU is preferrable. But that's just me...

Senior member Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 347

All things equal, I think that I'd like to be in charge. Just one reporter's opinion.

Enthusiast Joined: Sep 13, 2006 Posts: 34 Status: Offline

LMAggie wrote:

F-35A: Air Force style.
F-35B & F-35C: Navy style probe & drogue.

Yep, confirmed with the hydraulics group.

Senior member Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 347

I need more rounds in the gun too. Twisted Evil

checksixx wrote:

The X-35B still had the receptacle on the spine of the aircraft...Not sure of the plane for production aircraft though.

That's because the B model was the A model with the STOVL modification.

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 1034 Status: Offline

Lightndattic wrote:

checksixx wrote:

The X-35B still had the receptacle on the spine of the aircraft...Not sure of the plane for production aircraft though.

That's because the B model was the A model with the STOVL modification.

Yes, I'm aware of how the aircraft was setup, thank you.

SnakeHandler wrote:

Why don't they just put the probe on the A model also? Wouldn't that save cost? Besides, drogue refueling looks easier, rather than having to get plugged without having any say in the matter. Is Lockheed Martin looking for input from line drivers or are they going at this from a test pilot/engineer perspective?

Because about the only thing the Navy and Air Force can agree on is what to the call the airplane. And even then I don't think the Navy really had to do anything with that either. Also, Lockheed Martin consults with pilots ALL of the time from all around the world.

Senior member Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 347

Cool. I'm not full up on the politics but I know that the Navy/Airforce rivalry runs deep. Too bad, it could've been a great jet.

SnakeHandler wrote:

Cool. I'm not full up on the politics but I know that the Navy/Airforce rivalry runs deep. Too bad, it could've been a great jet.

The rivalry has little bearing on how great the jet is. It makes things difficult sometimes, can raise the cost with more changes, but in the end the common goal of each service is a lethal weapon. Each service gets what they want, and it ultimately makes our nation's defense more diverse.

F-16.net

Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Refueling probe