Norway may no longer require drag chute

[neptune]

F-35A Icy Runway Testing for Norwegian Drag Chute Underway in Alaska

Maj. Jonathan “Spades” Gilber, U.S. Air Force F-35 test pilot, demonstrated the handling qualities of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II during icy runway ground testing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.,.....

.....similar to NAF Adak but no tower, and still don't miss it! Howard AFB was much more fun!


Sorry All!, I have removed the Dumb Comment!

[spazsinbad]

By GOLLY reporters can be weird & imaginative, along with headline writers and/or sub-editors - here is my star example.

Sure, the F-35 is stealthy. But can it handle icy roads? [ROADS?! An attempt at a joke I guess - article is joke]
27 Nov 2017 Jackson Richman

"[A couple of sentences we already know then this] ...Weather has posed some challenges for the F-35 in the past. [Oh REALLY!? Weather poses challenges for anything on earth brudda] Early development revealed the need for modifications for lightning protection — a problem with the electrical and fuel tank systems that were fixed. The issue resurfaced earlier this year in Australia, however, when the F-35 had to depart the March Avalon Airshow early, because the modifications had not yet been completed on the two visiting Australian aircraft." [DUH - how is this relevant to story?]

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/11 ... icy-roads/

[spazsinbad]

Here is an example of a reporter doing the job asked of them I hope - although I wonder about the 'cost per day' question.

F-35 Undergoes Cold-Weather Testing in Alaska
27 Nov 2017 Oriana Pawlyk

"The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is undergoing some more extreme weather testing before additional jets fly across the pond for permanent stationing in Norway. The A model has and will continue to be tested on icy runways at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, in order to pass its drag chute certification — a requirement for Norway’s version of the jets, Lockheed Martin said in a release on Monday....

...“These tests are done with the aircraft in motion rolling over a prepared icy runway surface at a wide range of speeds,” Michael Friedman, a Lockheed F-35 spokesman, told Military.com on Monday....

...The second phase of the drag chute-ice testing — which will focus on how the chute performs during landing — is planned in early 2018, Friedman said.

“The icy runway tests being conducted now at Eielson AFB are to determine the handling characteristics, braking and deceleration performance on slippery landing surfaces with and without deployment of the drag chute,” he said. Officials at Lockheed did not clarify how much the latest extreme weather testing for the partner aircraft costs before press time.

Previous harsh weather testing
While the drag-chute is an anomaly for the F-35 — with only Norway and the Netherlands expressing interest in the ability to stop on ice given geographical location — the stealth aircraft has been through extreme weather testing before....

...On the cold side, the refrigeration chamber within the lab can fall as low as -70 degrees.

Bell at the time said the F-35 program has been the one of the most expensive programs tested in the lab to date. There’s a very wide range of what testing costs, but prices estimate to roughly $25,000 a day, he said. It was roughly $7 million to test the B model from the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force, Maryland, over a six month period, Bell said.

The Lightning II was put through major weather — the lab can do everything but lightning strikes and tornadoes — such as wind, solar radiation, fog, humidity, rain intrusion/ingestion, freezing rain, icing cloud, icing build-up, vortex icing and snow, said Friedman. It handled temperatures ranging from 120 degrees Fahrenheit to -40 degrees. Additionally, because of its vertical lift capabilities the Marine Corp’s F-35 was the [more?] difficult to test, Bell said...."

Source: https://www.defensetech.org/2017/11/27/ ... ng-alaska/

PHOTO ZOOM: https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a6 ... __main.jpg

[spazsinbad]

[spazsinbad]

Norway's F-35 drag chute tested on icy runways
27 Nov 2017 Leigh Giangreco

"...Last December, the Netherlands announced the Dutch government would pay Norway NOK96 million ($11.4 million) to develop the F-35’s brake chute. The Netherlands’ cost share would allow Norwegian government to redirect those funds to cover general expenses related to the Norwegian acquisition of the F-35, FlightGlobal reported.

The Netherlands has only committed to preparing aircraft for the drag chute mounting and the initial contribution covers the development of the modification."

Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... ys-443659/

[krorvik]

Ah, winter. I love this time of year.

Thanks for posting the vids, good to see the testing coming along

[viper12]

Kamerat krorvik, does that mean that instead of boarding an F-16, you'd now have to biathlon all the way to Ørland ?

[doge]

Other photos. Snow piled up.

[ricnunes]

<Basement dweller mode ON>

We all know that those F-35 snow photos in Alaska are fake because it's well known that the F-35 cannot operate on Alaska in snow conditions since it doesn't have two engines and its stealth coating will peel off during such weather conditions!
So it's clear that those photos are photoshoped!

P.S. - And the world's best Air-to-Air missile is the AGM-88 HARM!

<Basement dweller mode OFF>


After eating a Snickers chocolate bar, I feel much better and the state of dementia above has finally passed

Great photos there, keep sharing them

[krorvik]

Kamerat krorvik, does that mean that instead of boarding an F-16, you'd now have to biathlon all the way to Ørland ?

I'll likely have to resort to NATO planks:

[spazsinbad]

...After eating a Snickers chocolate bar, I feel much better and the state of dementia above has finally passed Great photos there, keep sharing them

Your command is my wish (for snickering)

"F-35 Icy Runway Testing at Eielson AFB Maj. Jonathan “Spades” Gilbert, U.S. Air Force F-35 test pilot, demonstrates the handling qualities of the F-35 during icy runway ground testing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, in November 2017. The testing is part of the certification process for the Norwegian drag chute." [you see them above] https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4533/386 ... 63_o_d.jpg (2Mb)
&
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4545/248 ... 5d_o_d.jpg (1.75)

[ricnunes]

...After eating a Snickers chocolate bar, I feel much better and the state of dementia above has finally passed Great photos there, keep sharing them

Your command is my wish (for snickering)

"F-35 Icy Runway Testing at Eielson AFB Maj. Jonathan “Spades” Gilbert, U.S. Air Force F-35 test pilot, demonstrates the handling qualities of the F-35 during icy runway ground testing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, in November 2017. The testing is part of the certification process for the Norwegian drag chute." [you see them above] https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4533/386 ... 63_o_d.jpg (2Mb)
&
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4545/248 ... 5d_o_d.jpg (1.75)

Get some nuts

[spazsinbad]

"Get some nuts " Don't you need salt with them for the icy runways?

[ricnunes]

:devil: "Get some nuts " Don't you need salt with them for the icy runways?

Yup, salt and these:

[spazsinbad]

Sew the trucks spred the sne evenly over the previously clear road? COOL.