F-35 with damaged coating?

[quicksilver]

Non-story. Jets (all...ALL) get minor dings and are repaired all the time — as in routinely. Not all dings require immediate resolution, and once resolved are not always perfect nor permanent. Thus they may require another round of repair(s).

Non-story.

[mor10]

I saw this on a display bird at Ellington Field in fall of 2017 and asked the attending tech sergeant about it. He said it was a common result of the hot sun baking the aircraft while sitting on the ground in hot places like Arizona.

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

I can see that.

[spazsinbad]

Perhaps that 'bubbly infill stuff' is what is referred to in this 'DailyFail' artickle posted by 'marsavian' recently 10 Dec 2018:

viewtopic.php?f=58&t=15969&p=407067&hilit=coat%2A#p407067

[SpudmanWP]

As it seems to only affect the canopy frame, the fix seems obvious fix: What about making a outer cover of silver-backed bubble-wrap like I use in my car?

It can fit on the outside and clip on the canopy lip. It will also keep the cockpit cooler.

[spazsinbad]

Heheh 'SWP' you have reminded me of that 'famous' F-35 pilot quote that he could fly it with a BAG OVER HIS HEAD!
Also that TINFOIL could be a great poorman RADIATION SHIELD for B61 when not practice bombing?

[quicksilver]

So, now — from inter web sites and anecdotal observation — we’ve not only determined the failure modes, but also the root cause and the corrective action...

[mor10]

It also means that the aircraft is really only suited for cold places like Norway and Canada

[spazsinbad]

Turn Off the Bubble Machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XckUgehsyw

[willhan]

Photoshopped? Seriously?

http://213.122.161.212/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003&search=(IPTC025%20contains(17%20Squadron))

This photo was taken at Edwards AFB on May 19, 2015, according to the EXIF.


Perhaps the 'deferral' theory can explain this:

Certain F-35 panels do have deferrals on them, which means we can wait a certain number of days before the LO is fully restored. Some have a five-day deferral. It means we might finish the bulk of the job on a Monday, which gives us a few days to fly the jet ‘green’, as we call it. Then we’ll have a crew come in on Friday or Saturday to fix the LO so it can cure over the weekend, and by Monday it’s fully ready to go.’

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=53691&p=383546

[mor10]

Here is a picture I took of the blistering cockpit.

[SpudmanWP]

It seems to me that a "whole canopy" solution would address the obvious heat issue inside the cockpit (evidenced by the existing shield) and any external frame issues. It also has the added benefit of keeping the cockpit cooler than the existing inside shield could do.

[ChippyHo]

If you look closely at some of the posted images L-M has on the Flickr site, it looks like the coating is actually a tape like material.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedm ... 760927062/
It certainly "bubbles" or distorts - BUT - if it is a taple like material it should be an easy and quick fix
(please note i said SHOULD be)

[spazsinbad]

Here is a picture I took of the blistering cockpit.

I went looking for that contraption - thanks. Now a BLAST from the PAST! Click Pic to read text + ZOOM

[element1loop]

And then I'll say, does it matter? ... It might degrade it to an F-117, maybe.

ADD IF,

If the RCS material molecules have not chemically altered into something else, they should keep absorbing radar wavelengths to spec regardless.

END IF