F-35 program updates

[SpudmanWP]

hehe... that was one of my fav sites for a few weeks. They were posting the weekly (very detailed) updates that came directly from LM (see energo's March 25th, 2011 post above). Apparently LM frowned upon that and had them not only stop, but scrub their site of all previous weekly posts. Bummer.

I emailed them about it and, surprise surprise, they did not respond.

[spazsinbad]

luke_sandoz caught the Canuks Cack Handed "...'special" Canuckistan version of the F-35 with the gun blister on the right side...."

After 'mirror' error corrected it looks a lot mo' betta...

[luke_sandoz]

Oh great, a flipped picture, but now look at the Canada & logo aft of the cockpit.

"adanaC"

[spazsinbad]

"adanaC" -that is the 'Great White UP'!? No? O! Canada revisited...

[luke_sandoz]

Much improved.

Probably adds 200 knots to the top speed and 500km to the range.

Because spelling is important.

[rpgrynn]

Ah yes the wonders of "foto shop"

[spazsinbad]

Pentagon, Lockheed At Odds Over F-35 Fixes Oct 26, 2011 By Amy Butler

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/ ... es&next=10

"...Also, as of close of business on Oct. 25, the entire program has conducted 803 flights, exceeding the 749 planned and 6,287 test points against 5,796 planned.

Stevens acknowledges that a design review is ongoing to explore a new approach to the arrested landing hook for the F-35C carrier version, which has not performed well during tests.

Stevens also acknowledged that the program is about two months behind in software development work, an issue that senior program officials acknowledged was one of concern earlier this year. While the 1B software is flying, the Block 2 software was expected to be ready for release for flight testing. Stevens says the company is working to recover the lost time."

[spazsinbad]

F-35 flight testing on pace for 2011, Lockheed says October 26, 2011 - Bob Cox


http://blogs.star-telegram.com/sky_talk ... -says.html
"Flight testing of the three variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter continues to go well, according to Lockheed Martin officials.

The company on Wednesday released new figures on the progress of flight testing so far this year. As of Sept. 30, the flight test program was more than 8 percent ahead of schedule for both test points and test flights.

As of Oct. 25, F-35s had flown 849 times this year and completed 6,254 test points. F-35A models, those destined for the Air Force and most foreign buyers, have completed 388 flights and 2,890 test points.

The F-35B short-takeoff-vertical landing variants completed 287 test flights and 2,043 test points, including 265 vertical landings and 72 vertical landings in 19 days earlier this month aboard the USS Wasp amphibious ship.

F-35C carrier variants have flown 129 times and completed 1,321 test points through Oct. 25. The C-model has been launched by a catapult 59 times in Navy ground testing.

Lockheed Chief Executive Robert Stevens, in remarks to financial analysts, said the test results showed the F-35 program was making good progress. Testing of the F-35C, Stevens said, had showed the need to redesign the arresting hook system used for carrier landings."

[spazsinbad]

This post is partly repeated (due different content) here: http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-16307.html

Pentagon concludes "should cost" review of F-35 31 Oct 2011

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/ ... ompanyNews

"...Lockheed on Monday said the F-35 flight test program was more than 9 percent ahead of schedule, as of Oct. 29.

From the start of flight testing in December 2006 through Oct. 29, it said F-35s flew 1,412 times, including flights by production-model planes and AA-1, a flight test aircraft.

It said the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jets being built for the Air Force had flown 398 times in 2011, while the F-35B short takeoff, verticle [sic] landing plane had completed 290 flights and 265 vertical landings. The F-35C or carrier variant had flown 131 times in 2011, it said."

[neptune]

[quote="spazsinbad... Testing of the F-35C, Stevens said, had showed the need to redesign the arresting hook system used for carrier landings."[/quote]

Redesign usually means the current design is inadequate for the test conditions. One big question; in the several trap events were any of them successful or has the "Sea" "snagged any wire"??

Kudo's on the Cat launches and all but we're anxiously awaiting a "good three wire" ; AOAs/ hook angle/ length, etc.; all the geometry and physics to get it on the deck before the wire, best wishes

[1st503rdsgt]

Says here that the F-35C has performed "three arrestments" as of November 3. What? Where's the video? Has anyone else heard of this?

Edit: It also states the the F-35A has already reached Mach 1.6.

http://defensetech.org/2011/11/04/f-35- ... st-update/

[SpudmanWP]

FORT WORTH, Texas, November 4th, 2011 -- Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] F-35 flight test program continues to make progress. Since the last flight test update issued on Sept. 20, the F-35 Lightning II 5th Generation multirole fighter conducted 185 test flights, bringing the total number of test flights for the year to 837.

A major highlight for October was the completion of F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) ship suitability testing aboard the USS WASP (LHD-1) off the coast of Virginia. The test began when BF-2 executed the first shipboard vertical landing on Oct. 3. The next day, BF-2 executed the first short takeoff from the WASP. During the third week of sea trials, BF-2 and BF-4 operated simultaneously on the ship. Combined, they accomplished 72 short takeoffs and 72 vertical landings during the three-week testing period.

Several flight test and production key milestones were accomplished since the last report:

October was the busiest month for flying in the history of the F-35 flight test program, with F-35 aircraft executing 122 flights. The F-35B aircraft known as BF-2 accomplished 22 flights, the most ever for an F-35 in one month.
F-35Bs completed their 500th flight on Sept. 30. In October, F-35Bs executed the most vertical landings (73) for a single month in the history of the flight test program, including the 200th vertical landing for the program Oct. 4.
AF-12 and AF-13 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft were delivered to the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., on Oct. 19 and 26, respectively. This marked the fifth and sixth delivery of CTOL jets to Eglin and the 12th overall delivery of an F-35 to the Department of Defense in 2011.
As of Nov. 3, F-35C carrier variant (CV) jets had executed 59 successful catapult launches and three arrestments.
F-35C aircraft achieved 200 flight hours on Sept. 22.
The F-35A known as AF-1 achieved the F-35’s maximum design limit speed of Mach 1.6 for the first time on Oct. 25.

Cumulative flight test activity totals for 2011 are provided below:

F-35A CTOL jets have flown 407 times.
F-35B STOVL aircraft have completed 296 flights.
F-35C CV jets have flown 134 times.

From the start of flight testing in December 2006 through Nov. 3, F-35s flew 1,432 times, including the production-model flights and AA-1, the original flight test aircraft. For video highlights of the F-35 program, click here.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Media Contacts:

Original PR

Here is the video on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioF__z5hDAo

[spazsinbad]

F-35 Test Program Update 12 January 2012

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/f35_news ... tem_id=547

"The F-35 Lightning II test team carried out 972 flights and completed 7,823 test points in 2011, 100 flights and nearly 1,200 test points more than originally planned. The totals include 474 flights and 3,600 test points for F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant; 333 flights and 2,636 test points for the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant; and 165 flights and 1,587 test points for the F-35C carrier variant. The F-35B test team also executed 268 vertical landings, including seventy-two on the USS Wasp (LHD-1) at sea. The F-35 flight test program plan calls for the verification of 59,585 test points by 31 December 2016. Through 2011, 12,728 test points, or 21.4 percent of the requirement, have been accomplished."

[thebigfish]

I keep reading on some blogs that "the F35 has failed the initial test of its stealth capability". Is that right or are some trolls spreading rumours on other Blogs.
Any info appreciated.

[spazsinbad]

Exactly the opposite. How about posting your question on the forum proper please. Thanks. Go here:

'theBIGfish' Question Repeated - Passed Stealth TEST?
http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... 241#217241