Overview of F-35 test flights

SpudmanWP · by **SpudmanWP** » 07 Mar 2010, 05:12

VarkVet wrote:Why couldn’t that sortie wait until Monday?

They probably have other flights scheduled for Monday

Ztex · by **Ztex** » 07 Mar 2010, 05:22

VarkVet wrote:
LMAggie wrote:BF-1 back in the air today; flight 38.

Today is Saturday?

Sounds like a lot of people getting paid overtime with such a cost critical program? Well everybody but the active duty Navy chase crew!

Why couldn’t that sortie wait until Monday?

Tax Payer

Wait...so everyone is freaking out that the program is behind schedule and therefore is costing a bunch extra...and then they work on Saturday, trying to do what they can to catch up and some one freaks out about that??

:roll:

SpudmanWP · by **SpudmanWP** » 07 Mar 2010, 05:40

Dammed if you do, Dammed if you don't.

LMAggie · by **LMAggie** » 07 Mar 2010, 06:04

VarkVet wrote:
LMAggie wrote:BF-1 back in the air today; flight 38.

Today is Saturday?

Sounds like a lot of people getting paid overtime with such a cost critical program? Well everybody but the active duty Navy chase crew!

Why couldn’t that sortie wait until Monday?

Tax Payer

JSF is working 24/7. That's how many factories/businesses work. And for the guy that screams for JSF to just get it done to complain about flying on Sat is just hilarious. I mean...wow...

SpudmanWP · by **SpudmanWP** » 07 Mar 2010, 17:52

When flights happen, after the fact, are hardly secret.

Just ask the of people who camp out outside the field watching for activity. Anyone with a pair of binoculars or a zoom lens could tell you the same thing.

gosmack · by **gosmack** » 07 Mar 2010, 20:54

Agreed. It's one thing to give specific facts on the flights themselves. i.e. Flight XXX AF-1 was taken up to 48,000 feet at Mach .9 to explore the envelope of 9+ G flying qualities. We obviously don't want anyone to have specific classified data on aircraft performance or systems.

When each post relates to the length of the flight, who flew the jet, and a very basic description of what was accomplished isn't exactly classified data. There are plenty of people waiting at the fences of the airfield, watching/taking pictures/keeping track of the flight test program. If the test flights themselves were this secretive, then we wouldn't have youtube videos of BF-1 performing a STOL landing, or updates from Lockmart about flight test milestones, let alone interviews with test pilots.

As long as no classified data is being released, this isn't harmful. I think many would agree the F-35 needs as much good press as possible. Not saying there is anything wrong with it. The jet is amazing, but there are plenty of people who think otherwise.

fiskerwad · by **fiskerwad** » 08 Mar 2010, 13:32

VarkVet wrote:
LMAggie wrote:BF-1 back in the air today; flight 38.

Today is Saturday?

Sounds like a lot of people getting paid overtime with such a cost critical program? Well everybody but the active duty Navy chase crew!

Why couldn’t that sortie wait until Monday?

Tax Payer

That would be true for the union guys, Vark, but the salaried guys I worked with were salary-exempt meaning exempt from OT pay. With LM's current policy of working at least 10% OT for free I'm sure the salaried guys wish they were part of the bargaining unit.
fisk

Lieven · by **Lieven** » 11 Mar 2010, 10:31

Off topic OPSEC posts were moved to a <a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-13724.html">separate thread</a> and so will future posts about OPSEC. If anyone has an issue with a particular post, just click the 'Report this post to a moderator' link and we'll take action if needed.

And as a gentle (and I'm sure also completely unnecessary) reminder to all people who are actually involved with the program <a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-3389.html">Warning regarding classified information</a>.

energo · by **energo** » 11 Mar 2010, 16:29

BF-1 flight 38
Saturday March 6, a 0.7 hour flight with Jon Beesley as pilot. This was Beesleys first STOVL-mode flight and the second pilot to convert to STOVL-mode.

BF-1 flight 39
Monday March 8, 0.7 hour sortie.

BF-1 flight 40
Wednesday March 10. Graham Tomlison pilted a 1.4 hour flight. Accomplished were four takeoffs, three hot pit refuelings, flight at 40 knots and four slow landings down to 75 knots. It officially counts as one test flight as the engine was not shut down between landings. Full story and Video

BF-3 flight 9
Also on March 10 RAF Sqd. Ldr. Steve Long piloted BF-3 for a 1 hour flight.

BF-3 flight 10
Also March 10. Lt. Col Schenk flew a 1.2 hour sortie.

Source: Lockheed Martin

B. Bolsøy
Oslo

neptune · by **neptune** » 11 Mar 2010, 20:28

Sean Meade at Aviation Week ARES Blog has the video of the March 10 flight of BF-01.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense :cheers:

loke · by **loke** » 30 Mar 2010, 14:39

I hope that there have been some test flights since 11 March!?

Has LM stopped announcing them?

Conan · by **Conan** » 30 Mar 2010, 16:07

loke wrote:I hope that there have been some test flights since 11 March!?

Has LM stopped announcing them?

A pretty important one was made on the 18th of March that was publicised quite widely...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcC7Ps9cHsY

loke · by **loke** » 31 Mar 2010, 08:27

Conan wrote:
loke wrote:I hope that there have been some test flights since 11 March!?

Has LM stopped announcing them?

A pretty important one was made on the 18th of March that was publicised quite widely...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcC7Ps9cHsY

Ah, thanks, I did notice that one however I failed to notice the date.

My question should perhaps then be rephrased "I hope that there have been some test flights since 18 March".

Or have they stopped announcing all test flights, and announce only some of them, like the March 18 test flight?

Shaken · by **Shaken** » 07 Apr 2010, 20:19

I'm sure our buddy Energo will update the recent flights list near future, but I can at least point out his front page article on BF-04's April 7th first flight (the first mission systems-equipped F-35).

http://www.f-16.net/news_article4053.html

SpudmanWP · by **SpudmanWP** » 08 Apr 2010, 01:05

Here is a list of BF-4's Block 0.5 MS functionality.