Marine test pilot makes first F-35B night landing at sea

[spazsinbad]

'quicksilver' I'm pleased you want to explain however my original question was about your use of the term 'NVC' which was unfamiliar to me. And as I point out it was not in wide use on any of the articles posted on this forum. Must by a USN thing. The 'night vision camera' has been well documented in the HMDS threads on this forum.

Being unfamiliar with the term 'NVC' I had asked the question. Thanks.

Squirt Kelly seen here: http://www.sldinfo.com/fly-testing-the- ... -approach/

Over page 'quicksilver' said:

"The NVC is an integral part of the helmet -- it is always there. There are a few pics around where one can see it above the edge-roll just above the pilot's brow (top of his forehead)...."

[spazsinbad]

OLD INFO NOW - look at the new info on HMDS / Avionics threads: The FULL FRONTAL graphic below is on the cover of this magazine. Somewhere probably on this forum there is a higher quality photo but it is 2300 here and I have had it for now....

‘Such A Capable Helmet’ Avionics Magazine July 2010 pp20-23

...Big Picture
The HMDS night imaging capability comes from sensors on the helmet and on the aircraft. On the helmet, an Electron Bombarded Active Pixel Sensor (EBAPS) from Intevac, Santa Clara, Calif., sends imagery directly to the visor. The camera works in the same wavelength as night vision goggles (NVG). “The sensitivity range is in the same range as image intensifier tubes,” said Foote.

Though the 1280-by-1024 pixel camera does not have the acuity of the latest NVGs, it does provide the 700-line video required for F-35 pilots to land at night. According to Foote, “It’s not really meant to be the main night sensor.”"

Read backwards from this last page of this thread for more up to date HMDS info:

Helmet-mounted displays
http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... +ii#254900

[quicksilver]

OLD INFO NOW - look at the new info on HMDS / Avionics threads: The FULL FRONTAL graphic below is on the cover of this magazine. Somewhere probably on this forum there is a higher quality photo but it is 2300 here and I have had it for now....

‘Such A Capable Helmet’ Avionics Magazine July 2010 pp20-23

...Big Picture
The HMDS night imaging capability comes from sensors on the helmet and on the aircraft. On the helmet, an Electron Bombarded Active Pixel Sensor (EBAPS) from Intevac, Santa Clara, Calif., sends imagery directly to the visor. The camera works in the same wavelength as night vision goggles (NVG). “The sensitivity range is in the same range as image intensifier tubes,” said Foote.

Though the 1280-by-1024 pixel camera does not have the acuity of the latest NVGs, it does provide the 700-line video required for F-35 pilots to land at night. According to Foote, “It’s not really meant to be the main night sensor.”"

Read backwards from this last page of this thread for more up to date HMDS info:

Helmet-mounted displays
http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... +ii#254900

This picture (Bill Gigliotti) is better -- the Kelly picture largely obscures the camera. The two prominent lenses (my descriptive) you see in each pic are the vHUD projectors. Smaller circles you see above them in the middle of the helmet are the NVC and a 'day' equivalent. IIRC, the system will switch back and forth btwn 'day' and 'night' without pilot actuation based on detected ambient light levels.

[quicksilver]

And finally, NVC is a common reference for the night vision camera anywhere F-35s are flown or discussed amongst those who are familiar.

[spazsinbad]

Yep I get that. Tell journalists that also because we get our information here mostly from them. However I will endeavour to always use NVC for Night Vision Camera from this day forward in any communications on this forum. I guess I'll have to explain elsewhere also.

[spazsinbad]

Feast of Fixes
Pentagon to weigh readiness of tailhook, helmet improvements in advance of F-35 production review
Amy Butler Washington and Huntsville, Ala., and Graham Warwick Los Angeles
AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY/AUGUST 19, 2013 | p 28 & p 33

"...Two F-35Bs are on the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship for the second round of developmental testing (DT) trials associated with the aircraft's unique ability to conduct vertical landings and short takeoffs in support of the U.S. Marine Corps. The Wasp trials, slated for three weeks, began Aug. 12.

The objective of these trials is to focus on night flying around, on and off the ship. Night flying from the ship is one of the capabilities needed for the U.S. Marine Corps to declare initial operation al capability (IOC) as planned by the end of December 2015.

Also on the agenda is flying, landing and taking off in heavier and more taxing wind conditions and more severe sea states than was experienced during the October 2011 DT trials onboard the Wasp. During tests this month, the Pentagon will check refinements to the F-35B's integrated propulsion and flight control systems. The initial trials in 2011 were "a testament to how well it works on a real deck," says Steven Wurth, technical lead for F-35 propulsion at Lockheed Martin. "The next deployment, with its higher sea states, will stress the system," he said during the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' Aviation 2013 conference in Los Angeles last week. Lockheed refined the integrated propulsion and flight control system based on the results of the 2011 sea trials.

Pilots will also test for the first time the aircraft's behavior on ship approaches, landings and takeoffs while it is loaded with various weapons.

Four pilots have been selected for the DT trials: two are from the U.S. Marine Corps; one is from the United Kingdom, which - along with Italy - is buying the F-35B; and one works for BAE, which produces the aft fuselage and empennage for the aircraft. The U.K. pilot will be the first from that nation to land an F- 35B at sea.

During the 2011 DT trials for the F-35B on the Wasp in 2011, officials conducted the first-ever vertical landing of the aircraft on a ship at sea...."

[spazsinbad]

Navy/Marine Corps Team: Testing F-35B Lightning II Aircraft Aboard USS Wasp
Story Number: NNS130816-07 Release Date: 8/16/2013
By Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Michael T. Forbes, USS Wasp Public Affairs

"...DT-II is the second of three test phases encompassing numerous milestone events including the first night operation at sea as well as the first launch and recovery of the F-35B at sea by a U.K. test pilot. The goal of this testing is to further define F-35B operating parameters aboard amphibious ships such as Wasp....

...Launch and recoveries filled the first, second and third days at sea creating smooth, synchronized daytime operations. Wasp flight deck crew members were trained in advance of DT-II to prepare them for F-35B operations at sea, ensuring all those involved were ready to support DT-II.

"The crew itself has spent quite a bit of time up at Patuxent River working with the F-35B understanding how the aircraft operates," said Capt. Brian Teets, Wasp's commanding officer....

...U.K. Squadron Leader Jim Schofield, a Royal Air Force pilot became the first international pilot to conduct sea-based launch and landing in the F-35B.

"It's exciting to see the integration of this new plane with the amphibious assault ships," said Schofield. "After a year leading up to this evolution, it's awesome to get here and start. And the crew has been especially accommodating and efficient at running these tests smoothly."...

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=76012
&
Large Photo: http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/ ... 65-075.JPG (1Mb)

CAPTION: "130814-N-ML172-152 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 14, 2013) An F-35B Lightning II aircraft takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during the second at-sea F-35 developmental test event. The F-35B is the Marine Corps variant of the joint strike fighter and is undergoing testing aboard Wasp. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael T. Forbes II/Released)"

[spazsinbad]

Search on 'F-35B' without quote marks here:

http://www.navy.mil/viewGallery.asp (NOW THE GOOD ONE)

For a bunch of goodly recent USS Wasp / F-35B DT II photos. For example (cropped):

130814-N-ML172-278 http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=157424

"ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 14, 2013) An F-35B Lightning II aircraft lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during the second at-sea F-35 developmental test event. The F-35B is the Marine Corps variant of the joint strike fighter and is undergoing testing aboard Wasp. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael T. Forbes II/Released)"

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/ ... 72-278.JPG

[spazsinbad]

DAYTIME VIDEO ONLY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pThT6DIG ... tube_gdata

[spazsinbad]

A bad URL was posted above so NOW the good URL is reposted here along with two pages (of the most recent) F-35Bs on WASP Aug 2013 photo thumbnails with live URLs to online photos:

http://www.navy.mil/viewGallery.asp (search using 'F-35B' without the quotes....)

[spazsinbad]

To follow on the discussion about day/night cameras NVCs here is a good photo:

http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... &start=225

Day/Night Cameras seen: http://www.f-16.net/attachments/hmds_iipilot_310.jpg

[SpudmanWP]

Video with night landing and night takeoff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jJglPPDm-w

Another View of the night landing and takeoff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW72dBp5DBM

[spazsinbad]

Thanks 'SWP'. Here is a screenshot of the HMDS II in use from that same video above.
+
I had note seen the canopy luv handles in use before (maybe I have - but not noticed - in other videos). Whatever.

[spazsinbad]

The HOLE BLOG article could go elsewhere but it is worthwhile at least to highlight some woids from the wizened one so cited here:

South Korea Stumble Threatens Lockheed's 'Super Jet' 19 Aug 2013 William Hartung

"...There are also serious questions as to whether the F-35 will ever work as planned. It has had problems taking off and landing vertically, as required for the Marine Corps version..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-h ... 81321.html



Part of the disinformation campaign I would guess. But then again I'm a paranoid F-35B yoda? Right?

[spazsinbad]

F-35B Accomplishes First Night Vertical Landing Aboard USS Wasp 20 Aug 2013

"...As of August 18, the two F-35Bs participating in DT-II, known as BF-1and BF-5, had completed a total of 40 short takeoffs and 41 vertical landings...."

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/p ... -wasp.html