29 Aug 2011, 21:59
F-35s Flying Again, but Face Continued Test Challenges By: Chris Pocock
AIN Defense Perspective >> August 2011
http://www.ainonline.com/ain-defense-pe ... no_cache=1
"Flight tests of the Lockheed Martin F-35 resumed after a two-week grounding. The Joint Program Office (JPO) said that the failure of a control valve had led to the malfunction of the aircraft’s Integrated Power Package (IPP), supplied by Honeywell. But an investigation continues, while a permanent resolution of the problem is being worked, the JPO added.
The impact on the F-35 development schedule is not yet clear. In a report to Congress last May, Dr. Michael Gilmore, the Pentagon’s director of operational test and evaluation, said, “Flight envelope constraints have begun to challenge the program.” Gilmore noted that modifications to the F-35 control laws might not be sufficient to correct some undesirable handling characteristics and higher-than-predicted structural loads that had been discovered during flight tests. The already-troubled F-35B [? C has potential spoiler] version might need a spoiler system, he added.
Gilmore also questioned whether the October date for completion of Block 1 software testing would be met. Block 1 is required for initial pilot training at Eglin AFB.
However, Gilmore noted that Block 2 flight tests in the F-35 are likely to start in November, per last year’s revised schedule. The definitive Block 3 software should be available in mid-2015, but he warned that “producing and integrating the software that provides the complex capabilities in these later blocks of mission systems will be a substantial challenge.”
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $535 million contract for long-lead items for the sixth low-rate, initial production (LRIP) batch. This comprises 38 F-35s, including the first two aircraft for Australia and the first four for Italy."
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"On January 6th 2011 the US SedDef announced a plan to cut F-35 production in the 2012-2016 period from 449 aircraft to 325. Production of the F-35B STOVL variant will be scaled back dramatically until that plane's technical problems can be fixed and tested. The F-35B has been placed on a two-year probation to allow Lockheed Martin to fix ite technical problems."
http://www.targetlock.org.uk/f-35/production.html
"On August 8th 2011 the DoD awarded Lockheed Martin a $535 million advance acquisition contract to provide long lead parts and components required for the manufacture of 38 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot VI F-35 aircraft (19 F-35As for the USAF; 4 F-35As for the government of Italy; 2 F-35As for the government of Australia; 6 F-35Bs for the U.S. Marine Corps; and 7 F-35Cs for the U.S. Navy)."
Graphic below from 'targetlock' (for US Forces)
AIN Defense Perspective >> August 2011
http://www.ainonline.com/ain-defense-pe ... no_cache=1
"Flight tests of the Lockheed Martin F-35 resumed after a two-week grounding. The Joint Program Office (JPO) said that the failure of a control valve had led to the malfunction of the aircraft’s Integrated Power Package (IPP), supplied by Honeywell. But an investigation continues, while a permanent resolution of the problem is being worked, the JPO added.
The impact on the F-35 development schedule is not yet clear. In a report to Congress last May, Dr. Michael Gilmore, the Pentagon’s director of operational test and evaluation, said, “Flight envelope constraints have begun to challenge the program.” Gilmore noted that modifications to the F-35 control laws might not be sufficient to correct some undesirable handling characteristics and higher-than-predicted structural loads that had been discovered during flight tests. The already-troubled F-35B [? C has potential spoiler] version might need a spoiler system, he added.
Gilmore also questioned whether the October date for completion of Block 1 software testing would be met. Block 1 is required for initial pilot training at Eglin AFB.
However, Gilmore noted that Block 2 flight tests in the F-35 are likely to start in November, per last year’s revised schedule. The definitive Block 3 software should be available in mid-2015, but he warned that “producing and integrating the software that provides the complex capabilities in these later blocks of mission systems will be a substantial challenge.”
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $535 million contract for long-lead items for the sixth low-rate, initial production (LRIP) batch. This comprises 38 F-35s, including the first two aircraft for Australia and the first four for Italy."
_____________________________
"On January 6th 2011 the US SedDef announced a plan to cut F-35 production in the 2012-2016 period from 449 aircraft to 325. Production of the F-35B STOVL variant will be scaled back dramatically until that plane's technical problems can be fixed and tested. The F-35B has been placed on a two-year probation to allow Lockheed Martin to fix ite technical problems."
http://www.targetlock.org.uk/f-35/production.html
"On August 8th 2011 the DoD awarded Lockheed Martin a $535 million advance acquisition contract to provide long lead parts and components required for the manufacture of 38 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot VI F-35 aircraft (19 F-35As for the USAF; 4 F-35As for the government of Italy; 2 F-35As for the government of Australia; 6 F-35Bs for the U.S. Marine Corps; and 7 F-35Cs for the U.S. Navy)."
Graphic below from 'targetlock' (for US Forces)
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Last edited by spazsinbad on 29 Aug 2011, 22:44, edited 4 times in total.
RAN FAA A4G: http://tinyurl.com/ctfwb3t http://tinyurl.com/ccmlenr http://www.youtube.com/user/bengello/videos
I guess it is easy to not realise the changes made recently. Oh well.... 
"The F-35 aircraft manufacturing plan, as adjusted in 
