Forum: F-35 milestones

Last edited by energo on Feb 17, 2010 - 11:56 PM; edited 1 time in total

BF-3 flights 1-5

Flight 1
BF-3 completed its first flight in Fort Worth on Feb. 2. Chief Test Pilot Jon Beesley tested the basic handling qualities of the aircraft, its systems, functionality, basic communication and navigation operations. All systems operated successfully and the aircraft completed its 1 hour sortie landing code 1. This was also the first flight using the Generation 2 Helmet Mounted Display System helmet.

Flight 2
BF-3's second flight was completed on Feb 7. The aircraft flew a 1h 20m air worthiness flight to evaluate the aircrafts systems, propulsion and handling qualities. Early indications are that the aircraft is performing as designed.

Flight 3
On Feb. 9 BF-3 completed a 1 hour flight.

Flight 4
On Feb. 16 BF-3 completed a 3.1-hour endurance flight in preparation for PAX ferry.

Flight 5 (PAX ferry)
Pilot Jeff Knowles ferried BF-3 to PAX on its fifth flight on Wednesday Feb 17.

B. Bolsøy
Oslo

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BF-2 flights 18-20

On Tuesday Jan. 26 BF-2 flew two sorties in one day.

Flight 18
Flight 18 at PAX was piloted by the programs first international pilot, RAF Squadron Leader Steve Long. Long is also the third military pilot to fly the F-35. The 1.3 hour sortie included a military power takeoff, flying up to 20,000 feet, flying qualities, landing gear cycling and a straight-in approach to a full stop landing.

Flight 19
BF-2s second flight (19) that day was a 0.9 hour sortie with Aerial Refueling testing as primary objective.

Flight 20
On Feb. 4 BF-2 completed a 2.5 hour Air Refueling flight with pilot Slim Knowles.

B. Bolsøy
Oslo

BF-3 flew again today....they were up with a KC-130 for a long flight.

Ztex wrote:

BF-3 flew again today....they were up with a KC-130 for a long flight.

Excellent captures! The echelon really gives a good impression of the F-35s visual size relative to the Hornets. Keep up the good work! Thumb

B. Bolsøy
Oslo

BF-3 is now at PAX:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2010/100217ae_f35bf-3_pax.html

...and BF-1 flew two sorties today.

...and one of those BF-1 flights ended with a slow landing in STOVL mode. Cheers

Congrats to the BF-1 team and onward to VL...

LMAggie wrote:

...and one of those BF-1 flights ended with a slow landing in STOVL mode. Cheers

Congrats to the BF-1 team and onward to VL...

No longer any need for a snow plow!

B. Bolsøy
Oslo

I cant wait I just got hired on with this program at Edward's, very exciting! Looking very forward to a new airframe, I will miss the 16's but can't get far enough away from 18's.

Pete

Wow , nice news and pics ,thanks energo, Ztex, LMAggie .

Clearly, the flight test program is gaining steam. Fun on how the critics hardly mention it.

sweetpete wrote:

I cant wait I just got hired on with this program at Edward's, very exciting! Looking very forward to a new airframe, I will miss the 16's but can't get far enough away from 18's.

Pete

Congrats, Pete! Enjoy the ride.
fisk
Applause

...another BF-1 slow landing today...

Last edited by energo on Mar 01, 2010 - 11:47 PM; edited 2 times in total

BF-1 flight 32
On Feb. 17. BF-1 accomplished a 0.5 hour flight. Objectives included STOVL engage and slow landing.

BF-1 flight 33
Feb. 18 was a 0.8 hour sortie with objectives including handling qualities.

BF-1 flight 34
Feb. 18 was a 0,7 hour sortie with objectives including STOVL doors testing and slow landing.

BF-1 flight 35
Feb. 19 was a 0.3 hour flight, objectives including handling qualities.

Pilot for all four flights was STOVL lead pilot Graham Thomlison (BAE Systems).

BF-2 flight 21
Feb. 20, a 0.7 hour sortie and first flight of U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Fred Schenk, the second USMC pilot to fly on the program.

BF-2 flight 22
Feb. 24, a 1.1 hour flight including handling qualities and touch-and-go. Pilot was RAF Squadron Leader Steve Long.

B. Bolsøy
Oslo

Updated F-35 pilot rooster, in chronological order:

1. Jon Beesley (Chief test pilot, LMCO)
2. Jeff "Slim" Knowles (LMCO)
3. Lt Col. James "Flipper" Kromberg (first USAF pilot)
4. Graham "G.T." Tomlinson (first international and lead STOVL test pilot, BAE Systems)
5. Maj. Joseph T. "O.D." Bachmann (first USMC pilot)
6. David "Doc" Nelson (LMCO)
7. Sqn. Ldr. Steve Long (first UK service pilot, Royal Air Force)
8. Lt. Col. Fred Schenk (USMC)

B. Bolsøy
Oslo

BF-1 flight 37 was Saturday.
BF-3 flight 8 was today.

Forum: F-35 milestones

Overview of F-35 test flights