F-35 first flight

msupepper · by **msupepper** » 16 Dec 2006, 19:15

LinkF16SimDude wrote:
idesof wrote:It doesn't look like the pilot was flying with the HMD, and you can clearly tell the airplane doesn't have a HUD either. Am I wrong? Is the HMD ready?

That is indeed interesting. Could there be a camera on the jet somewhere that could feed a gizmo that then puts of a pseudo-HUD display on one of the heads-down screens? Or maybe he just flew it the old-fashioned way, with just the regular flight instruments (albeit displayed on a flat screen)?

I had been told that first flight was only cleared for VFR. I have no idea if that is true or even typical, but it would make sense. That's just one system they can eliminate to concentrate on other more pressing issues.

Thumper3181 · by **Thumper3181** » 17 Dec 2006, 00:09

Congratulations LM, PW, and team. Well done.

habu2 · by **habu2** » 17 Dec 2006, 01:17

msupepper wrote:I had been told that first flight was only cleared for VFR.

AA-1 is only cleared for VFR at this time. It is not a 'first flight' issue. It will be VFR for the second & third flight etc. until equipment is added to make the jet IFR capable. Remember, AA-1 is a testbed, not really a production airframe.

The air data probe that failed was the same problem seen on Tuesday's high speed taxi test. That is why they had another high speed taxi test on Thursday, to verify the fix to the ADP. Unfortunately it failed again on rotation on Friday.

The first flight wasn't cut short, they just skipped the parts that required a functioning ADP, so it didn't take as long. So, after basic handling checks, they returned to base as planned. I guess what I'm trying to say is that they didn't say "oops, we have a problem, let's cut it short and RTB immediately" - instead they said "well that isn't working so we just won't do the tests requiring ADP, but we can do everything else" - which they did.

ArrowHawk · by **ArrowHawk** » 17 Dec 2006, 01:24

Thanks for the good info, Habu2. Like typical flight test, they had a contingency plan for such things.

Arrowhawk

Scorpion1alpha · by **Scorpion1alpha** » 17 Dec 2006, 09:19

Unfortunately, the media has a hard time explaining the "problem" and shorter 1st flight. They just see it as and like to label it a "failure" when in fact it was a overall a successful 1st flight.

Wildstar · by **Wildstar** » 17 Dec 2006, 21:48

1st flight video from TeamJSF: http://images.teamjsf.com/main.php?g2_v ... temId=3215

Edit: Source/server isn't stable though, video feed dropped on me for the 3rd time. But hey, it's still better than nothing.

One thing I noticed from the video... no afterburner on takeoff?

sjean77 · by **sjean77** » 17 Dec 2006, 22:55

Here's the link to the same TeamJSF video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIiWRLlN75U

This was in awesome sight in Person!!!

VarkVet · by **VarkVet** » 17 Dec 2006, 23:52

sjean77 wrote:Here's the link to the same TeamJSF video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIiWRLlN75U

This was in awesome sight in Person!!!

Thanks for the link, awesome video ... finally got some footage from the chase jets.

RuffRider101 · by **RuffRider101** » 18 Dec 2006, 00:45

Thanks for the link sjean. That is a pretty cool video. I can't wait to see what this a/c is really made of. That was a pretty soft landing...the 35 must have some awesome shocks.

depotdog · by **depotdog** » 18 Dec 2006, 18:45

Here's another video link.
http://www.crmstudios.tv/videos/F35/

JanHas · by **JanHas** » 18 Dec 2006, 19:20

Thank you depotdog!

dmackenzie1 · by **dmackenzie1** » 18 Dec 2006, 22:41

So when is the second flight?

LM had a goal of 2 flights within 3 days. The next few days are going to be rainy.

We want to take a few more pictures with an even better lens.

armchairpilot · by **armchairpilot** » 19 Dec 2006, 15:54

keep an eye on the 2nd flight thread
http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-7080.html

TJSmitty · by **TJSmitty** » 19 Dec 2006, 16:42

People will try to sell ANYTHING on eBay...

The Lockheed Martin F-35 JSF, or "Lightning II," is the largest single defense program the US has ever had. Following the historic first flight of the aircraft on Friday, December 15, 2006, these plastic beverage cups were handed out to the workers of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company which designed and built the aircraft. There will never be another First Flight of the most-important fighter plane in history, and there's a limited number of workers at the company. So collect your own unique commemorative F-35 JSF cup today! (Similar to the durable plastic "keeper" cups at many restaurants.)

Source: http://cgi.ebay.com/F-35-JSF-Commemorat ... dZViewItem

Lieven · by **Lieven** » 20 Dec 2006, 12:04

And keep an eye on the F-35 photo gallery:

Where we have some nice new pictures like these for example:

The F-35 prototype takes off on it's first flight from NAS Fort Worth on December 15th, 2006. [Photo by Keith Robinson]

The F-35 Lightning II on short finals after its 35 minutes lasting first flight. An Edwards AFB F-16B chase plane is keeping an eye on him. [Photo by Dipstick]