Latest F-35 AA-1 test flight photos (Flight 24 thru 26)

[SnakeHandler]

That canopy bow HAS to go.

[checksixx]

Yeah, I noticed in the pictures that it seems to be in the worst place possible...

[AeroG33k]

Wow, those are great pictures. I agree, the canopy bow seems somewhat obstructive and but I'd imagine it's necessary for the through-canopy ejection system while allowing a for a birdstrike-proof front section or else it wouldn't be there. But remember that the Distributed Aperture System is supposedly able to make the pilot see "through" the airframe. Is that confirmed yet? I wonder how effective that will be in practice...

[LMAggie]

Wow, those are great pictures. I agree, the canopy bow seems somewhat obstructive and but I'd imagine it's necessary for the through-canopy ejection system while allowing a for a birdstrike-proof front section or else it wouldn't be there. But remember that the Distributed Aperture System is supposedly able to make the pilot see "through" the airframe. Is that confirmed yet? I wonder how effective that will be in practice...

No-bow transparencies are heavy given that they have to be extremely thick to meet bird-strike requirements. Simply put, you'll take a performance penalty for a no-bow canopy. AeroG33k, that's good point. Only time will tell what the scope of that system will be. It will have to go through extensive pilot trials before a final config is found.

[Raptor_claw]

A different (and high-res) pic has been posted on the LM site....


http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/pres ... efuel.html

[Corsair1963]

man, what a nice looking plane. I cant wait to get a good model of it or get a good flight sim.

That makes two of us.............I would love a 1/48th scale F-35 for my desk!


Note: Panda Models of China does make one. Yet, is in a piece of junk!

[Yoram777]

here are some more pics

flight 24:








First US Air Force Flight:

[AeroG33k]

Beautiful Aircraft! For some reason those pictures got me thinking about a delta-winged 2-seat tactical bomber variety with wings that extend from the intakes incorporating the horizontal stabs...I know, but one can dream.

[Corsair1963]

I like the pick between the F/A-18 Hornet and the F-35A! Really, shows how clean the Lightning is compared to your average 4th Generation Fighter. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if the F-35 didn't have extraordinarily quick acceleration rates!

[Corsair1963]

Beautiful Aircraft! For some reason those pictures got me thinking about a delta-winged 2-seat tactical bomber variety with wings that extend from the intakes incorporating the horizontal stabs...I know, but one can dream.

Personally, I don't see why the F-35 couldn't be stretched to include a second crewman and more fuel/weapons! Really, considering the numbers projected for the F-35. The bomber version would only add value......

[dwightlooi]

Beautiful Aircraft! For some reason those pictures got me thinking about a delta-winged 2-seat tactical bomber variety with wings that extend from the intakes incorporating the horizontal stabs...I know, but one can dream.

Personally, I don't see why the F-35 couldn't be stretched to include a second crewman and more fuel/weapons! Really, considering the numbers projected for the F-35. The bomber version would only add value......

You may need an engine upgrade for that. As it is right now, the F-35 is not an underpowered aircraft, but it is does not have excess power to spare like an F-22 either. At 50% fuel the F-35's power to weight ratio is about the same as an SU-27/30 in full afterburner (~1.16:1). In dry thrust it is slightly better -- 0.75:1 for the F-35 vs 0.72:1 on the SU-27. Given that it is a capable of carrying adequate combat loads while remaining a very clean aircraft we can expect very competitive performance and even superior performance in some portions of the envelope.

Add another fuselage plug, more weight, a second dude, etc. and all of ti goes away.

[Corsair1963]

Beautiful Aircraft! For some reason those pictures got me thinking about a delta-winged 2-seat tactical bomber variety with wings that extend from the intakes incorporating the horizontal stabs...I know, but one can dream.

Personally, I don't see why the F-35 couldn't be stretched to include a second crewman and more fuel/weapons! Really, considering the numbers projected for the F-35. The bomber version would only add value......

You may need an engine upgrade for that. As it is right now, the F-35 is not an underpowered aircraft, but it is does not have excess power to spare like an F-22 either. At 50% fuel the F-35's power to weight ratio is about the same as an SU-27/30 in full afterburner (~1.16:1). In dry thrust it is slightly better -- 0.75:1 for the F-35 vs 0.72:1 on the SU-27. Given that it is a capable of carrying adequate combat loads while remaining a very clean aircraft we can expect very competitive performance and even superior performance in some portions of the envelope.

Add another fuselage plug, more weight, a second dude, etc. and all of ti goes away.

Personally, I doubt thrust would be a problem! First, because a bomber version would not require the thrust to weight ratio of a fighter. Second, the GE F-136 is suppose to make much more power than its P & W cousin. Either way power or lack thereof shouldn't be a issue.........Note: The proposed FB-35 would likely have a larger wing with more lift!

[AeroG33k]

The second cockpit could fit mostly within the space for the lift fan, without the need for another fuselage section (just a modified forward one), but the larger delta wing would have to pick up the slack of fuel capacity. T/W wouldn't be critical, for the reasons corsair pointed out. Structural concerns would be the biggest concern for me, although given commonality between F-35A and F-35C, it seems doable, especially since a delta wing would reduce wing loading. The delta wing would be optimized for high subsonic or even supersonic cruise. That, along with some low observable/low drag under-wing pods for 4 small diameter bombs would be a very nice alternative to the FB-22 which seems to have been scrapped.

Heck, I'm still thinking of a 2-seat F-35 with the C's wing and dorsal AESA's in the weapons bays for a combat-capable mini-AWACS, but that's just me dreaming.

[Corsair1963]

The second cockpit could fit mostly within the space for the lift fan, without the need for another fuselage section (just a modified forward one), but the larger delta wing would have to pick up the slack of fuel capacity. T/W wouldn't be critical, for the reasons corsair pointed out. Structural concerns would be the biggest concern for me, although given commonality between F-35A and F-35C, it seems doable, especially since a delta wing would reduce wing loading. The delta wing would be optimized for high subsonic or even supersonic cruise. That, along with some low observable/low drag under-wing pods for 4 small diameter bombs would be a very nice alternative to the FB-22 which seems to have been scrapped.

Heck, I'm still thinking of a 2-seat F-35 with the C's wing and dorsal AESA's in the weapons bays for a combat-capable mini-AWACS, but that's just me dreaming.

That's the beauty of the F-35 design! Just mix and match..... Another thing to consider the price for a Bomber Version of the F-35 would be much more reasonable than a likely conversion of the F-22 for the same role! Especially, important in the export market! Think of all of the Strike Eagles and Tornado's that will need to be replaced in the coming decades.....

[Guysmiley]

Is it just me or are there some "fit" issues with the canopy? Looks like there's a pretty significant gap between the front edge of the canopy and the fuselage.