F-35B Marine 2018

neptune · by **neptune** » 22 Jan 2018, 02:32

http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news ... 58ad9.html

Marines begin flight test operations in Bogue on next generation jet

ELISE CLOUSER
Saturday, January 20, 2018 11:45 pm

BOGUE —
The U.S. Marine Corps has begun flight test operations on its newest generation fighter, the F-35B Lightning II, at the Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue. Testing at MCALF Bogue, which media were invited to observe Friday, focuses on the landing capabilities of the F-35B on sloped surfaces. Maj. Mike Lippert with the VX-23 aviation unit in Patuxent, Md., said the goal of testing is to “expand the vertical landing envelope.” Test landings at MCALF Bogue will be conducted on sloped landing pads of various gradients constructed at the airfield. The F-35B, produced by aerospace company Lockheed Martin, is the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the fifth generation F-35 Lighting II line of aircraft. Bob Nantz, technical specialist for the F-35 Integrated Test Force based in Patuxent, Md., said the F-35B is designed to operate from austere bases and air-capable ships near combat zones. Because the plane lands vertically and requires only a short runway for takeoff, it is ideal for amphibious ship decks. Testing at MCALF Bogue is part of a larger series of extensive tests for the aircraft. Maj. Lippert said they are conducting about 200 test points for the F-35B. Test points use different combinations of environmental and takeoff/landing conditions to discover the plane’s range of capabilities. Maj. Lippert called the testing operations an “airborne science project.”

The F-35B is capable of taking off and landing from expeditionary runway matting, which Marines can use to construct airfields virtually anywhere in the world. The entire airfield at MCALF Bogue is just such an expeditionary runway, constructed of aluminum panels that can be disassembled and reconstructed at different locations. Maj. Lippert said the airfield at MCALF Bogue is a unique testing location because the expeditionary landing field and the landing pads were constructed entirely by Marines. He said everyone involved in the testing operation has gained valuable experience that can be applied to the field. Gunnery Sgt. Julio Silva led the effort in constructing the sloped landing pads used in the F-35B testing. The pads are constructed of the same aluminum panels as the rest of the runway. He said it was laborious process that included stabilizing and grading the soil and laying down each panel by hand. Testing at MCALF Bogue is expected to last through the end of February. Residents nearby in Bogue and Emerald Isle can expect to increased noise from takeoffs and landings of the F-35B.

weasel1962 · by **weasel1962** » 22 Jan 2018, 02:47

Quite a number of B test units. MAWTS-1, YMX-22 and YX-23. Also the UK 17 sqn.

neptune · by **neptune** » 22 Jan 2018, 03:05

http://www.sldinfo.com/the-uss-wasp-com ... -makeover/

The USS Wasp Comes to Japan: “Amphibiosity” Gets a Makeover

By Robbin Laird
2018-01-16

The LHD-1 USS Wasp has spent the last few years as the workhorse of F-35B Lightning testing for the amphibious fleet. While it was doing this, the MV-22B Osprey was revolutionizing the strike force onboard the amphibious fleet. And waiting in the wings is the coming of the new CH-53K King Stallion, which will add a whole new lift capability to the amphibious strike force. With the Marines deployed in Japan with the first F-35Bs and now the USS Wasp joining them, the F-35B now has operational sea legs. This means that the very flexibility, which a vertical lift aircraft has both on sea and on the land, has come to a theater where threats abound and challenges are certainly real. As allies look forward to augmenting their capabilities, they are looking in part to new amphibious ships or adding to the “amphibiosity” of the combat fleet as one Marine Corps General put it. And the new air combat assets certainly can transform the operational impact of the amphibious strike force.

The coming of the USS Wasp to Sasebo, Japan along with the already deployed F-35 squadron to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan is the beginning of a new chapter in warfare. It is about shaping a very capable insertion force which can operate in the evolving spectrum of warfare. The US and the allies engaging peer competitors with evolving capabilities is requiring nothing less than changing our own template of operations and introducing new capabilities, fifth generation aircraft, new C2 systems, laying down the foundation for distributed operations, developing enhanced multi-domain operational capabilities. There is a major shift in operational foci for both peer competitors and the US and its allies, which is being empowered by new systems, new training, new concepts of operations, and new areas of conflict, such as in the cyber domain. And this in turn in resetting the spectrum of conflict within which engagements are occurring and will occur. The amphibious task force empowered by Ospreys and F-35s, and other key assets coming to the fleet provide an evolved tool set to operate in changing combat conditions and threats. There is always the reactive enemy; then there is the innovation which the United States and its allies can deliver as well to affect an adversary’s calculus. The USS Wasp and its crew along with any embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit is a key part of the innovation which the United States is bringing to the defense of the democratic world.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 22 Jan 2018, 04:20

From OP 'neptune' post above the VL lights setup at BOGUE FIELD:

"Pilot Maj. Mike Lippert VX-23
F-35 pilot Maj. Mike Lippert addresses media Friday at Bogue Field. Extensive tests will be performed with the F-35B on sloped landing surfaces. (Dylan Ray photo)" https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnew ... .image.jpg

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 22 Jan 2018, 05:36

Remembering that likely allowance was made for the flat deck moving between these test parameters at sea we may imagine sloping VL pads might be. Link to full article: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=52450&p=358714&hilit=Isby+Ayton#p358714

Another Year Done
Jan 2017 David C Isby & Mark Ayton

"...F-35 Chief Test Engineer Andrew Maack said the team wanted to be able to test up to +/-5° roll and +/-2° pitch movement of the flight deck: “We easily found those conditions that were new for the F-35B, but it performed very well..."

Source: AIR International Magazine January 2017 Vol.92 No.1

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 22 Jan 2018, 09:07

During DT-III F-35B CHAINED with a seven degree roll: download/file.php?id=23767

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 22 Jan 2018, 16:25

Stoopid landlubbering question: Why / how is that 7° roll achieved? It appears to be a bright, sunny day and there appear to be no whitecaps on the water in the distance; that is, the sea appears relatively calm. Is it simply from ship manueuvering (a hard turn to starboard, perhaps)? Or is this degree of roll typical for US LHAs and LHDs due to their hull design?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 22 Jan 2018, 17:22

AVAST Ye Lubbers of Land! Sure is SWELL out HERE. PACIFIC has gwert SWELLS which can ROCK & ROLL YA real good now.

sferrin · by **sferrin** » 22 Jan 2018, 21:14

spazsinbad wrote:AVAST Ye Lubbers of Land! Sure is SWELL out HERE. PACIFIC has gwert SWELLS which can ROCK & ROLL YA real good now.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 22 Jan 2018, 22:37

That's swell! :doh:

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 22 Jan 2018, 23:23

I see some whitecaps in the distance in this last video clip. Would this be about a five (5) on the Beaufort scale?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 23 Jan 2018, 00:40

You would have to be there (or be square). Judging details from photos/videos is not for the faint of heart methinks. One can guess however & to be realistic one would have to know the BEAUFORT SCALE eh. One of the more dramatic images:

https://cdn-blog.adafruit.com/uploads/2 ... ge-234.png & http://oneillseaodyssey.org/wp-content/ ... aufort.gif
&
https://cdn.wartsila.com/images/default ... dth661.jpg & http://nodehillenvironmental.typepad.co ... rtweb2.gif
&
For those KILOmetres Per Hour Peeps: http://i40.tinypic.com/2dvubo0.jpg

Having a flat deck ship BEAM ON to swell will get it ROLLING nicely. The PACIFIC OCEAN is notorious for long rolling swells.

mor10 · by **mor10** » 23 Jan 2018, 01:08

steve2267 wrote:I see some whitecaps in the distance in this last video clip. Would this be about a five (5) on the Beaufort scale?

Possibly, but to me it looks a little lover than 5. However, wave height and swell height is two completely different things. There can actualy be absolutly flatt calm, but still have significant long swell. I believe the Pacific is one of the places where very long swell is common.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 23 Jan 2018, 01:30

lamoey wrote:
steve2267 wrote:I see some whitecaps in the distance in this last video clip. Would this be about a five (5) on the Beaufort scale?

Possibly, but to me it looks a little lover than 5. However, wave height and swell height is two completely different things. There can actualy be absolutly flatt calm, but still have significant long swell. I believe the Pacific is one of the places where very long swell is common.

Yep - you got it. 'TheStevenOfMuchWandering&Wondering'? posted videos of a CVN? in such a swell but I can't see video.

"This video contains content from PBS, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds."

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 23 Jan 2018, 07:50

Useless Video of an F-35B STO at Bogue Field but at least at end one can see the matting.