F-35B in the ME for first time

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 27 Sep 2018, 19:48

And they're rocking the gunpod...

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 27 Sep 2018, 20:05

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II Aerial Refuel
15 Sep 2018 QATAR Video by Staff Sgt. Rion Ehrman U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs

"A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron departs on an aerial refuel mission from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The KC-135 refuels U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The F-35B has deployed to the Middle East for the first time as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is the first combat-deployed MEU to utilize the F-35B, replacing its predecessor the AV-8B Harrier...."

Source: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/628134/u ... ial-refuel

sprstdlyscottsmn · by **sprstdlyscottsmn** » 27 Sep 2018, 20:08

SpudmanWP wrote:Take note that the RCS enhancers are still mounted.

I find that very odd

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 27 Sep 2018, 20:12

Afghanistan Air Defences by Taliban don't require stealth. Why not keep Loony Lenz? No need to give anything away eh.

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 27 Sep 2018, 20:20

If the looney parts that make the Looney Lenz reflect 'dar waves are removable... then WHY NOT rock the Looney Lenz covering, without the magic bitz inside, all the time and keep everyone guessin'?

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 27 Sep 2018, 20:24

OR... if the Looney Lenz part does have to be removed in its entirety to make the bird invisible... but you want a certain nation to the west to see the Killer Bees a comin' and a goin' to and fro the Astan... just to remind them you are there... OR to NOT get nervous that they have done gone and disappeared and are marauding somewhere unseen over parts that would get the persians nervous...

sprstdlyscottsmn · by **sprstdlyscottsmn** » 27 Sep 2018, 20:28

Good points. "See? we are here, and look at how far we can go."

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 27 Sep 2018, 20:30

There is an issue for crossing other countries for Air Traffic Control also - it is just not stealthy - same as any other JETS.

F-35Bs VMFA-211 from USS Essex ARF KC-135 15 Sep 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVcjnJflMFk

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 27 Sep 2018, 21:10

Hookup looked easy, peasy -- no iron maiden flailing around -- nice and smooth. I don't think I even noticed the basket moving as the probe inserted.

Were they contending with some sort of leak, though? What was all the vapor blowing back? Was that fuel? Is that normal?

Whatever color it is, the gunpod is NOT the same gray as the plane.

In the earlier video, I found it "interesting" that they included footage of someone loading 25mm cannon rounds. It was almost like they wanted everyone to know they were definitely flying the gun. I know Crews has stated the AV-8B always flew with guns when on operational missions. I wonder if they found a reason for the Killer Bees to get some strafe in on this mission?

SpudmanWP · by **SpudmanWP** » 27 Sep 2018, 21:23

Why did they not load the pod prior to mounting it on the F-35?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 27 Sep 2018, 21:24

steve2267 wrote:Hookup looked easy, peasy -- no iron maiden flailing around -- nice and smooth. I don't think I even noticed the basket moving as the probe inserted. Were they contending with some sort of leak, though? What was all the vapor blowing back? Was that fuel? Is that normal? Whatever color it is, the gunpod is NOT the same gray as the plane."...

Perhaps the still photo of an IRON MAIDEN makes it clear what it is - ALL FREAKIN' IRON not the SHUTTLECOCK variety. Perhaps the video resolution does not make it clearly apparent about the ALL METAL BASKET hence you miss irony. :roll:

Turbulent Tanking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-RcBAZ5bx4

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 27 Sep 2018, 21:28

spazsinbad wrote:Perhaps the still photo of an IRON MAIDEN makes it clear what it is - ALL FREAKIN' IRON not the SHUTTLECOCK variety.

Hmm... I chalked it up to excellent piloting skills, particularly the nice steady approach and the angle or flightpath from which he approached?

Question: are ALL KC-135 baskets of the IRON MAIDEN variety? Or do they also fly the shuttlecock variety?

outlaw162 · by **outlaw162** » 27 Sep 2018, 21:29

It is easy....day VMC, smooth air....

It's interesting to me that they play the hose laterally (the bend) rather than vertically....and the example shown has a 90 degree bend at the knuckle laterally. That's the condition that is most conducive to a 'basket slap' on the fuselage. :shock:

That is also the area where the tension on the hose (like a spring) can cause the hose to whip around while hooked up. Not that this applies to the F-35, but after the contact we would ride slightly high and back off until there was just a slight bend in the hose, not a big angle on the knuckle, and hold it there.....

But that was then, this is now.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 27 Sep 2018, 21:31

It is just too difficult to keep up with all the questions but others with experience of the maiden may answer - otherwise:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=54401&p=401182&hilit=Maiden+iron#p401182

Apologies - in the video shown above the basket does look all metal so it is the IRON MAIDEN.... There are comments elsewhere about positioning on the maiden but I have no experience of it myself just buddy tanking with shuttlecock.

This is the blurb for the SATISFACTION iron maiden video above:

"Turbulent Tanking Published on Jul 19, 2009 Spencer Abbot

"This is a video of a Navy F/A-18 Hornet tanking from Air Force KC-10's and KC-135's (the KC-135 is particularly challenging-- pilots call it the "Iron Maiden"). In turbulent weather, especially at night, tanking can be even tougher than landing on the ship. The basket is heavy, and it can damage the plane if it strikes it, to include shattering the canopy. One can only imagine the amusement of the tanker crews (to whom we're very grateful) as they watch us flail around on a bumpy day."

There is a story in the link above to elsewhere 'bout tanker crews 'trying to help' by moving BOOM with iron maiden around as receiver aircraft approaches - which is NOT helpful. By radio the receiver usually asks them to STOP it NOW! :shock:

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 27 Sep 2018, 21:49

I never quite get used to the high angle of attack she flies at when she is just lollygagging along in an easy cruise.

While I am not holding my breath, I am curious to read of any gun employments they may make, specifically as to how they may use the round limiter to place precise number of rounds on target and/or increase the number of gun runs they can make. I recall 30 round bursts being mentioned in testing. That would give a pilot upwards of 7 gunruns with the Bee. Comments by an LM engineering manager suggested 10-20 round bursts are possible, but I have never read that definitively.