[VMFA-211] Marine pilots say F-35 fighter jets are worth it

[spazsinbad]

[count_to_10]

"Intake valves"?

[quicksilver]

And then there's this slightly different edition (below) wherein Leventhal comments about the $100M price tag "...on top of the $1T already spent on research and development."

http://video.foxnews.com/v/539913655400 ... show-clips

C'mon Rick. What is this...Ned in the first reader? You actually have some street cred as a journalist; you can do better than that. Here's a link to the SAR. See page 28 --

https://fas.org/man/eprint/F35-sar-2016.pdf

[vanshilar]

And then there's this slightly different edition (below) wherein Leventhal comments about the $100M price tag "...on top of the $1T already spent on research and development."

I think the worst is still the Fox News editorial that said the F-35 would cost $1T annually for maintenance.

[neptune]

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/mil ... story.html

Marine Corps allows F-35 jets back in the sky

Carl Prine

The Marine Corps has greenlighted the return of F-35B Joint Strike Fighters to the skies over Arizona, following a brief grounding caused by computer glitches. Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, commander of the San Diego-based 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, made the decision on Friday to allow Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 at the Yuma air station to resume flights. Citing “anomalies” detected in the Autonomic Logistics Information System, he had grounded the the Wake Island Avengers the day before. The system, called “ALIS,” transmits details about a jet’s mechanical condition to the ground-based computer network, automatically scheduling maintenance for the aircraft and contacting vendors worldwide to stock needed parts.

In a statement earlier this week, the Marines said investigators from defense contractor Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office believed the problem was rooted in the 2.0.2 software update for ALIS. In a similar statement on Saturday, the Corps said the F-35B’s performance and safety were never compromised by the software snafu. “Reliability of equipment and safety of our personnel are among the Marine Corps' top priorities as we continue transitioning our legacy aircraft to the F-35 in the coming years,” the new statement said. A joint news release issued by the F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin said engineers would “continue to monitor and improve ALIS performance” to ensure pilots could continue to operate “safely and effectively.”

.....

[neptune]

https://news.usni.org/2017/06/23/26413#more-26413

UPDATED: F-35B Operations in Yuma Resume After Temporary Halt Due to Software Update Issues

By: Megan Eckstein
June 23, 2017 2:19 PM •
Updated: June 23, 2017 8:43 PM

This post has been updated after the Marine Corps announced the end of the operational stand-down. Flight operations in Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 resumed after a temporary one-day suspension to fix a problem related to a software update with the aircraft’s Autonomic Logistics Information System, the Marine Corps announced. “Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, Commanding General of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, made the decision to temporarily suspend VMFA-211 flight operations pending fixes to a recent ALIS software upgrade within version 2.0.2 that has presented some anomalies,” 3rd Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Kurt Stahl said in a Thursday afternoon statement, noting that those anomalies “are related to maintenance codes not being reflected properly in the system.” “There is nothing wrong with the performance or safety of the aircraft itself, but it is imperative that we ensure the ground-based ALIS system is working properly before flight operations continue. The Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin have dispatched system engineers to help resolve these issues associated with the ALIS software update.”

F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin officials began working on the software immediately to resolve the anomalies. “The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and Lockheed Martin Action Team has identified the root cause and generated the software fix to resolve the issues identified by the USMC with their F-35 MCAS Yuma based Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), the management backbone for the F-35 Lightning II,” the JPO announced in a Friday evening statement. “With this fix, VMAF-211 at MCAS Yuma resumed flight operations today. The JPO with LM will continue to monitor and improve ALIS performance to ensure our warfighters have the required F-35 air systems to operate safely and effectively.” “The issues associated with the ALIS software update have been mitigated at MCAS Yuma. The performance and safety of the aircraft itself was not compromised by this software update. Reliability of equipment and safety of our personnel are among the Marine Corps’ top priorities as we continue transitioning our legacy aircraft to the F-35 in the coming years,” the Marine Corps added in the Friday evening statement. Stahl said only VMFA-211 was affected by the stand-down, which does not apply to the Japan-based VMFA-121. Marine Corps headquarters spokeswoman Capt. Sarah Burns told USNI News earlier on Friday that VMFA-121 had not yet uploaded the software update and would wait for a fix to be discovered before installing the new ALIS software for its squadron. VMFA-211 was the first to attempt the software update and therefore was the one to discover the issues, she said. VMFA-211 had been conducting day-to-day flight operations in Yuma, Ariz., and preparing for the Red Flag combat training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base beginning July 10, Stahl said, noting that the squadron still intends to participate in the exercise despite the short pause in operations.

[neptune]

Red Flag 17-3 Participants

July 5, 2017
davechng

Upcoming Red Flag 17-3

Starting from July 10 to 28, 2017 This hot summer months in Las Vegas will be all US assets.
If you guys are going it will be very hot by the speedway so drink plenty fluids.
Enjoy

Here are the participating units;

17-3 participants

16th-ACCS- E-8C "Joint STARS" Robins AFB
34th-BS- B-1B "Lancer" Ellsworth AFB
393d-BS- B-2A "Spirit" Whiteman AFB
41st-RQS- HH60 "Pave Hawk" Moody AFB
41st-ECS- EC-130 "Commando Solo" Davis-Monthan AFB
494th-FS- F-15E "Strike Eagle" Lackenheath, UK
55th-FS- F-16C "Fighting Falcon" Shaw AFB
58th-FS- F-35A "Lightning II" Gorillas Eglin AFB
79th-RQS- HC-130J "Combat King II" Davis-Monthan AFB
95th-FS- F22A "Raptor" Mr Bones  Tyndall AFB
965th-AACS- E-3G "Sentry" Awacs Tinker AFB
Tankers- ??
VAQ-134- EA-18G "Growler" Garudas NAS Whidbey Island
VMFA-211-   F-35B "Lightning II" Wake Island Avengers MCAS Yuma
VQ-1- EP-3E "ARIES II" World Watchers NAS Whidbey Island

[quicksilver]

Hmmm...

VMFA-211 is from MCAS Yuma and their squadron lineage dates from participation in the battle of Wake Island in 1941. Hence, they are "The Wake Island Avengers."

[neptune]

Hmmm...

VMFA-211 is from MCAS Yuma and their squadron lineage dates from participation in the battle of Wake Island in 1941. Hence, they are "The Wake Island Avengers."

....Thanks QS, he only had a couple of typos???

[neptune]

RED FLAG 17-3
VMFA-211
16JUL17

[neptune]

https://insidedefense.com/insider/navy- ... sting-week

The F-35B aboard the Essex (LHD-2) for Dawn Blitz 2017

The F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing jet will also be at-sea this week participating in the amphibious exercise, Dawn Blitz, aboard the Essex (LHD-2). Dawn Blitz is a multinational exercise that takes place on the West Coast. This is the first time the F-35B and F-35C have operated on vessels at the same time.

"Dawn Blitz 2017 is a multinational, scenario-driven, expeditionary maritime training exercise designed to train the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in the operations expected of an amphibious task force while also building U.S. and coalition operational interoperability from the sea. Dawn Blitz 2017 will test staffs in planning and execution of amphibious operations in a series of live training events. Dawn Blitz 2017 will involve sea and land based live fire, amphibious beach landings, aviation from sea to shore, maritime prepositioning force training and sea-basing operations."

SAN DIEGO -
Forces from Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade will participate in amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz 2017 off the coast of Southern California, Oct. 20-30. Dawn Blitz 2017 is a scenario-driven exercise designed to train the Navy and Marine Corps in operations expected of an amphibious task force. The exercise will test staffs in the planning and execution of amphibious operations in a series of live training events. Units from U.S. 3rd Fleet and Ist Marine Expeditionary Force will utilize the latest technologies in the live exercises to accomplish Dawn Blitz 2017 training objectives.

The exercise will involve an amphibious assault, mine operations, live-fire opportunities, and the establishment of expeditionary advanced bases. Exercises like Dawn Blitz 2017 provide realistic, relevant training necessary for effective global crisis response expected of the Navy and Marine Corps. Unique to this exercise is the integration of the F-35 and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System to conduct a sea-based strike. When directed, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade deploys and is employed as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force in support of Combatant Commander requirements for contingency response or major theater war. U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. 3rd Fleet constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations.

You’ve probably heard that F-35B Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft will someday be coming to an amphibious ship near you, but did you know that some ships have already made the improvements to accept F-35’s? In August USS Essex (LHD 2) welcomed the F-35B on board during sea trials and flight deck certifications off the coast of Southern California.

PACIFIC OCEAN
(Aug. 19, 2017)
An F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter assigned to the "Avengers" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 awaits take off aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is underway conducting sea trials and flight deck certifications off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Irwin Sampaga/Released)


...should be VMFA-211 aka Wake Island Avengers on the Essex

[spazsinbad]

That text is not seen at that link so I guess it is for subscribers? Seriously though the clowns there at that link cannot spell LIGHTNING for fsake that is so retarded 'LIGHTENING'. I'll post news about OLED HMDS testing on the HMDS thread....

[neptune]

That text is not seen at that link so I guess it is for subscribers? Seriously though the clowns there at that link cannot spell LIGHTNING for fsake that is so retarded 'LIGHTENING'. I'll post news about OLED HMDS testing on the HMDS thread....

....maybe that Churchill common language thingee!

....sort of (lazy) searched for Dawn Blitz 2017 and Essex LHD 02 and cobbled together...

...noting that; the HIMARS and F-35B are "working together??"; "IF" the "Bee" is providing targeting info for the HIMARS, this would lead to yet "ANOTHER" benefit for the Corp from the ever capable "Bee" program! (Can Do!)

...would this lead to a US Army HIMARS (ATACMS)/ USAF linking for the F-35A??

...OMG! a SM-6 and F-35C linkage???..OK!,Ok!...one thing at a time!

[spazsinbad]

12 page PDF article about current status of VMFA-211 and hows your father.... Excerpts will be all over the joint soon.

Wake Island Avengers
Jan 2018 Jamie Hunter

"Every squadron has a unique tale of its history and heritage, and none more so than VMFA-211. Steeped in battle honors and now leading from the front in the F-35B Lightning II program, the ‘Avengers’ have an incredible story to tell... report and photos: Jamie Hunter..."

Source: Combat Aircraft Volume 19 Number 1

[spazsinbad]

From above Publication... Pics by Jamie Hunter