Navy F-35C DT-III Testing

Production milestones, roll-outs, test flights, service introduction and other milestones.
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by mor10 » 15 Aug 2016, 22:53

I see journalists are heading out to USS George Washington. Some early images from Combat Aircraft available:

http://www.combataircraft.net/2016/08/15/back-to-the-boat-dt-iii-starts-for-f-35c/
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by ngroot0 » 16 Aug 2016, 00:56

F-35C's that are visable in the pictures in the article:

CF-3 VX-23 SD-73
CF-5 VX-23 SD-75
169160 VFA-101 NJ-121
169162 VFA-101 NJ-123
169302 VFA-101 NJ-125

BuNo's need to be confirmed. These BuNo's were previously flying without modex (tail code NJ only) at NAS Fort Worth JRB. It would make sense they got these modexes now. The Weekly Update (https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a6 ... _11_16.pdf) says that five F-35C of VFA-101 would deploy on the USS George Washington. Perhaps the other two are NJ-122 (169161) and NJ-124 (169163). This is just a guess and BuNo's aren't certain yet.


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by spazsinbad » 16 Aug 2016, 01:16

Thanks 'lamoey' best photo I reckon is this one: http://www.combataircraft.net/wp-conten ... 6484_o.jpg
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by SpudmanWP » 16 Aug 2016, 02:20

nm
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by jessmo111 » 16 Aug 2016, 05:42

http://www.defensetech.org/2016/08/15/p ... /?mobile=1

Info starting to come out.

Also I wonder if Amy from AV got to go?
Did solomon get an invite? Lol.


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by jessmo111 » 16 Aug 2016, 05:50

BTW, I really can't wait to see how the Super Hornet community reacts when the F-35C kicks SH **** in every conceivable way.


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by spazsinbad » 16 Aug 2016, 06:11

Thanks for the link 'jessmo111'. An excerpt about CarQual Details for the F-35C Instructor Pilots AFAIK.
PHOTOS: Navy F-35C Completes Final Carrier Tests
15 Aug 2016 Hope Hodge Seck

"ABOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON–The Navy is getting closer to declaring the carrier-variant F-35C ready for combat with a third and final round of carrier tests taking place this month off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia.

For the first time, operational pilots are getting a chance to fly the aircraft, with a dozen instructors from Fighter Squadron 101 out of Naval Air Station Oceana [NOPE they are from VFA-101 Eglin AFB but may have embarked from NAS Oceana] getting carrier-qualified this week with ten arrested landings and two touch-and-go maneuvers apiece.

The seven F-35Cs aboard the carrier George Washington got a lot of action Monday as test pilots and instructors conducted carrier qualifications...."

Source: http://www.defensetech.org/2016/08/15/p ... ier-tests/


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by spazsinbad » 16 Aug 2016, 07:28



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by spazsinbad » 16 Aug 2016, 08:48



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by endre » 16 Aug 2016, 12:21

jessmo111 wrote:http://www.defensetech.org/2016/08/15/photos-navys-f-35-completes-final-carrier-tests/?mobile=1

Info starting to come out.

Also I wonder if Amy from AV got to go?
Did solomon get an invite? Lol.


Amy has left AV unfortunately. Lara Seligman is the new Aviation Week Pentagon reporter.
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by spazsinbad » 17 Aug 2016, 00:27

Final flight tests underway for F-35C, the Navy's newest combat aircraft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGc4Npg1oy0



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by spazsinbad » 17 Aug 2016, 02:25

F-35C at Sea for U.S. Navy Development Test III
16 Aug 2016 USS George Washington (CVN 73)

"...Pilots and maintainers from VFA-101, also known as the Grim Reapers, based at Eglin AFB, Florida, and from the NAS Patuxent River Integrated Test Force team, are exceeding expectations during the test. Pilot carrier qualifications for VFA-101 were completed in two days, and the Pax River ITF has completed 125 test points and eliminated 101 test point requirements due to exceptional performance. [ https://washington73.wordpress.com/2016 ... lightning/ ]

Source: https://www.f35.com/news/detail/f-35c-a ... t-test-iii


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by spazsinbad » 17 Aug 2016, 04:06

F-35Cs Undergo Helmet, EW Tests Plus Aboard USS George Washington
16 Aug 2016 Colin Clark

"...The Navy, which will be the last of the three American services to declare their version of the Joint Strike Fighter ready for combat, filled two rooms below decks with gear to check more than 500 test points. The F-35Cs arrived the day before a C-2 Greyhound full of reporters flew out Monday to observe and interview. In addition to the five test pilots getting qualified, the first dozen operational pilots were aboard to get carrier qualified.

They’ll be testing the plane’s Electronic Warfare capabilities and its ability to land and take off in crosswinds and with asymmetric bomb loads. The pilots are checking out the third generation helmets to ensure the brightness of the symbology displayed does not interfere with their ability to see the carrier as they land at night — they are waiting for moonless nights before doing the tests. The seven aircraft aboard will be doing maximum weight and maximum power takeoffs.

During the George Washington‘s cruise, Navy Capt. James Christie told me the 70 maintainers aboard will work with Pratt and Whitney to do a complete engine swap of the enormous F135 engine. They’ll take it out and replace it. There’s been no reason, Christie told me, to do the engine replacement for the last 10 months because the “engines are very reliable.”

The ship will also test the performance of the Delta Flight Path software aboard the F-35C which allows the plane to routinely grab the Three Wire as it lands on the carrier. I did see at least two Two Wire landings [how many 'cross deck pendants on CVN-73?] while the new pilots [what will 'maus92' say? I say these 'new' pilots should be beached poimenantly! That's all folk.] were doing their qualifications. The software is very similar to the Magic Carpet software being installed on the Navy’s newer F-18s."

PHOTO: http://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/u ... 24x768.jpg

Source: http://breakingdefense.com/2016/08/f-35 ... ashington/
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by maus92 » 17 Aug 2016, 04:08

Interesting tidbit revealed by a pilot during an interview associated with DT-III:

The F-35 is a lot easier to fly and a lot more difficult to operate,” than the older F-18 Super Hornet, he said, because of the immense amount of data fusing required. Manufacturers and others hope that data load will be easier to manage with the eventual release of the newer, so-called block 3F software...."

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/20 ... re/130812/


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by spazsinbad » 17 Aug 2016, 04:11

'maus92' doesn't get it - aircraft still under development so: "...Manufacturers and others hope that data load will be easier to manage with the eventual release of the newer, so-called block 3F software...." We hope so also but I guess not some people eh. Boy o boyo it is interesting to read the actual article - bits are excerpted below.... Thanks so much.... :mrgreen:
Navy Pilots Describe How the F-35’s Brains Will Change Air Warfare
Navy Pilots gave the F-35 rave reviews during a show-and-tell at sea, but questions remain about its troubled software.
16 Aug 2016 Patrick Tucker

"ABOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON – Navy pilots say piloting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter on to the flight deck of U.S. aircraft carrier is almost like flying a plane that flies itself. The software aboard the new fighter could enable the military to train pilots faster and, in the event of a major conflict, possibly fly more sorties against the enemy. Pilots would spend less time throttling and figuring for flight conditions and more time coordinating with other aircraft, working with huge volumes of data, and managing complex missions against ever-more sophisticated adversaries....

...“The aircraft does a lot of stuff that, before, I would have to fight the aircraft,” said Marine Major Major Eric Northam with the VX-23 test squadron. The jet’s Delta Flight Path software, created by F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin has changed all that. “If I want to capture the barrier altitude that I’m climbing to … I dial in the altitude; it will climb up and capture it. If I want to capture the heading I can just use the pedals to dial in a new heading. I can keep my hands on the controls where I need to and then redirect the aircraft as required.”...

...“I can take off, type in an altitude, type in a heading, and just let the jet go out to fly,” said Lt. Graham Cleveland of the VF 101 “Grim Reaper” squadron, who said that pilots would probably keep the software engaged 99 percent of the time while flying, taking off, and landing. “Teaching the very basics will be easier … There’s still a man in the box. But it is safer, more efficient, easier to train to.”

The commander said the F-35’s software should allow pilots to learn how to takeoff and land from aircraft carriers sooner than was required in earlier fighter jets. “I think it will dramatically decrease the amount of flight hours needed to get to the boat,” he said.

“The F-35 is a lot easier to fly and a lot more difficult to operate,” than the older F-18 Super Hornet, he said, because of the immense amount of data fusing required. Manufacturers and others hope that data load will be easier to manage with the eventual release of the newer, so-called block 3F software.

In the meantime, the augmented piloting capability was on display aboard the George Washington. Cleveland said that Delta Flight Path would “significantly increase our ability to safely land aircraft….that could lead to more sorties,” he said.

A Stealth Aircraft the First Week of the War
In a major conflict, military officials expect the fighter jets flying initial combat missions would need to do more than just destroy air defenses in stealth mode. So the F-35 also features sophisticated artificial-intelligence enhanced electromagnetic warfare capabilities....

...ALIS consists of laptop that a pilot would take to the plane to take the bird’s temperature and a large number of servers to hold the program. Those servers are supposed to be on the aircraft carrier. Despite ample room below deck, ALIS was not aboard the George Washington, which relied on shoreside computers. “We are reaching back to ALIS support on the beach for our operations,” said Briggs. “The ship is not outfitted with the final production system. When we need ALIS information … we reach back through a satellite network, touching ALIS.”... [A lot of stuff about ALIS at source.]

...When asked if there was any concern about integrating ALIS onto existing carriers in accordance with the testing timeline (it’s supposed to be aboard the USS America for a second round of tests in October) Rear Admiral Roy Kelly, director of Joint Strike Fighter Fleet Integration for the Navy, answered “There is. There is.”"

Source: http://www.defenseone.com/technology/20 ... re/130812/


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