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

Looking sleek and pretty...

Nice!

Man...I can't wait to see this thing muscle into a 9g turn at an airshow...

I can't wait to fly some High Aspect BFM with it. I finally got to do some today after a few months of PGMs and OpSat. It's nice to pull 9 again. We don't get to do it nearly enough.

Is the F-35 going to be AoA limited like the Viper? I don't mean to the same limit, but in general? Obviously the F-22 isn't. Or is that the kind of thing that doesn't get a decision until the test flights are complete and the envelope is "fully explored"?

I can't see why some people think the F-35 is an ugly airplane!! I think its an awesome looking aircraft. It just looks the buisness to me, esp. compared to the euro canards.

Dumb question:

Any reason they didn't clip the horizontal stabs like they did on the Raptor? I'm guessing its an airflow issue, but I'd love a firm answer if anyone knows.

-Check

Potentially stupid question: Can anybody tell me what the item I highlighted in this picture is? I'm guessing it's the APU/IPP exhaust but I really don't know. It seems...big...

Based on the metallic tone around it I would guess an exhast of sorts sure, but why there? To hide the emission?

Yes, thats the IPP exhaust area. The dark spot is the exhaust hole and the light colored material surrounding it is a special material developed to withstand the high temps from the IPP and be LO at the same time (which is extremely hard).

Yeah, I say IF anything ever replaces, or joins, the Viper, then the 35 should be it.

I wanna know what that red mark is on the main engine nozzle. Perhaps they forgot to remove the "Remove Before Flight" tag?! lol

Great, has that IPP exhaust always been located there?! Another mod I missed in making my model, now I have to add it in. Any close pics?

Well the IPP has always existed, but the exhaust has changed location. In fact, the exhaust is on the bottom on one variant. That photo is actually one of the few shots I've seen where you can see the IPP exhaust.

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