When are UNIT markings applied to F-35 Final Finish/Rollout?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 14 Mar 2018, 08:00

At what stage during the final F-35 preparation for rollout are the UNIT markings applied to the F-35s? Later when at the unit more markings are applied (such as plane captain name or a pilot name). Meanwhile some old stuff - first from 2010:

..."F-35
COMMAND INSIGNIA: Overall height is 12 inches (silhouette - contrasting shade of gray); bottom of the insignia will be centered 47 inches above the bottom edge of the blackboard and centered fore to aft in the vertical stabilizer blackboard area.
WING INSIGNIA: Overall height is 12 inches (silhouette - contrasting shade of gray); insignia will be will be centered within the blackboard area on the right side inlet below the chine and formation light.
SQUARDON INSIGNIA: Overall height is 12 inches (silhouette - contrasting shade of gray); insignia will be centered within the blackboard area on the left side inlet below the chine and formation light.
UNIT DESIGNATOR: Overall height is 12 inches (silhouette - contrasting shade of gray); bottom of the designator will be centered 25 inches above the bottom edge of the vertical stabilizer blackboard.
NAF, WG, OP GP, OP SQ TAIL IDENTIFIER: (Used only on flagship aircraft) Overall height is 6 inches (silhouette - contrasting shade of gray); bottom of the identifier will be 14 inches above the bottom edge of blackboard area, centered between forward and aft blackboard edges.
TAIL STRIPE: Not allowed for F-35 aircraft.
CALL NUMBER: Overall height is 6 inches (silhouette - contrasting shade of gray); bottom of the tail number will be centered 2 inches above the bottom edge and 2.6 inches from the inner most trailing edge corner of the vertical blackboard area.
NOSE NUMBER: Overall height is 4 inches (contrasting shade of gray); nose numbers will be located four inches from the inboard door forward apex (BL 0) and two inches from BL 0 door edge.
CREW NAMES: Two inches in height; Pilot: End of name will be located two inches forward of inboard aft apex (BL 0) and two inches from BL 0 door edge (left NLG door); Crew Chief: Beginning of name/rank will be located two inches forward of inboard aft apex (BL 0) and two inches from BL 0 edge (right NLG door).
Note: All lettering/numbering applied to F-35 blackboard areas will meet vertical block type/style font/lettering and Arabic numerals as specified in Technical Order 1-1-8, Appendix B, Figure B-3 (Form of Letters and Numerals) or similar computer generated font."

Source: http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/produ ... 21-117.pdf (300Kb)

OLD story & vid repeated: https://www.f35.com/in-depth/detail/the ... in-stealth

Jon · by **Jon** » 14 Mar 2018, 17:06

Thanks for sharing.

That document confirms stripes aren't allowed, not even low viz.

From what we've seen with photos of aircraft at the factory is a real mix, so may not be a solid answer. I've seen photos of the pilot/crew names being added on delivery, but all seem to have full unit markings otherwise.

I've noticed that the 4th FS has a little Fujin symbol on the tails which is nice. You can tell this squadron now from both sides of the jet. Hopefully see more of this type of thing.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 15 Mar 2018, 00:19

Our RAAFie Chappies will have an F-35A 'paint' facility at Willytown:

"Low Observability Refresh Facility. The proposed facility will facilitate the testing and painting of the surface finish of the aircraft." http://www.defence.gov.au/id/Air6000/Wi ... nWorks.asp

rheonomic · by **rheonomic** » 15 Mar 2018, 00:23

I believe the unit markings are all applied at the factory.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 15 Mar 2018, 05:16

The Brits will have ONLY a 'grey doughnut' "built-in" (applied at factory under the finish?) and nuttin' else according to:

RAF Dambusters squadron loses its red, white and blue logo to stay stealthy in new £150m fighter jets
22 Jan 2018 Bridie Pearson-jones

"...The RAF's new 617 squadron's F-35B Lightning II plane will have a new roundel, called a 'grey doughnut' on the side of each aircraft, in a move to appear less obvious in the sky.... The roundel won't be painted, but built in....

...'The name of the game is stealth, so these aircraft will carry no squadron markings at all – just the grey roundel which will identify it as British,' said an RAF source last night.'..."

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -logo.html

dandy5 · by **dandy5** » 20 Mar 2018, 23:16

It is a pity that these planes have no marking

grab6303 · by **grab6303** » 22 Mar 2018, 18:12

I can confirm that unit markings are applied at the factory (paint). Names are applied by the unit (stencils).

Grab

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 22 Mar 2018, 19:44

Thanks for that info.