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Pratt & Whitney resumes F135 STOVL testing for F-35 JSF
September 2, 2004 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
The Pratt & Whitney (P&W) led F135 Propulsion System Team has delivered and begun testing on its second F135 Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) Propulsion System, engine number FX643. Later this month P&W also anticipates the resumption of testing on FX641, the 1st STOVL configured F135 Propulsion
System.
The F135 Team, since October of 2003, has delivered a total of three Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) / Carrier Variant (CV) configured engines to test (FX631, FX632 and FX633) as well as the two previously mentioned STOVL propulsion systems. All the engines have been delivered under the F135 Team's System Design and Development (SDD) contract to provide the power for the Joint Strike Fighter and all five have been delivered on or ahead of schedule. These five SDD F135 engine systems have already accumulated over 700 hours of test run time and both the CTOL/CV and STOVL configured systems have completed some very important testing milestones.
Examples of these milestones include FX631, the first CTOL/CV configured engine to test, completed several test runs to full afterburner power demonstrating over 39,000 pounds of thrust and FX641 has performed sustained runs to "hover thrust" demonstrating over 39,000 pounds of thrust in the vertical take off mode.
FX641 testing will be focused on the areas of STOVL Sea Level Performance, STOVL Sea Level Operability, STOVL Systems Development and STOVL Augmentor Performance, while FX643 is focused on endurance testing. The F135 program expects to deliver two more STOVL systems early this fall and is on track to reach its target of 2,000 combined (CTOL/CV-STOVL) test hours before the end of 2004.
The F135 Propulsion System Team consists of P&W, the prime contractor with responsibility for the propulsion system and system integration for all variants; Hamilton Sundstrand provider of the F135's control system, external accessories and gearbox; and Rolls-Royce, providing the Rolls-Royce LiftFan(TM), 3 Bearing Swivel Module and Roll Posts to the STOVL (Short Take-Off/Vertical Landing) F-35B. The technologically advanced F135 has evolved from the highly acclaimed F119 engine powering the F/A-22 Raptor.
System.
Examples of these milestones include FX631, the first CTOL/CV configured engine to test, completed several test runs to full afterburner power demonstrating over 39,000 pounds of thrust and FX641 has performed sustained runs to "hover thrust" demonstrating over 39,000 pounds of thrust in the vertical take off mode.
FX641 testing will be focused on the areas of STOVL Sea Level Performance, STOVL Sea Level Operability, STOVL Systems Development and STOVL Augmentor Performance, while FX643 is focused on endurance testing. The F135 program expects to deliver two more STOVL systems early this fall and is on track to reach its target of 2,000 combined (CTOL/CV-STOVL) test hours before the end of 2004.
The F135 Propulsion System Team consists of P&W, the prime contractor with responsibility for the propulsion system and system integration for all variants; Hamilton Sundstrand provider of the F135's control system, external accessories and gearbox; and Rolls-Royce, providing the Rolls-Royce LiftFan(TM), 3 Bearing Swivel Module and Roll Posts to the STOVL (Short Take-Off/Vertical Landing) F-35B. The technologically advanced F135 has evolved from the highly acclaimed F119 engine powering the F/A-22 Raptor.
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