Forum: General F-35 Forum

Last edited by spazsinbad on Mar 07, 2012 - 05:47 AM; edited 1 time in total

First flight launch means first step toward future air dominance March/6/2012
by Chrissy Cuttita 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123292672

"EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The launch of the first F-35 Lightning II flight here March 6 is a small step into the next half century of air dominance.

Morale was high even though the sortie was abbreviated by the pilot's determination of "in flight emergency."

"Our first sortie is truly a milestone for the program," said Col. Andrew Toth, 33rd Fighter Wing commander. "Unfortunately things happen. We didn't want it to happen today but we were prepared. Our pilot did the exact right thing in returning the jet back to Eglin. Although there were issues we are doing whatever we can to move the program forward safely and effectively."

Pilots and maintainers will meet later today to discuss the potential fuel leak finding that caused the precautionary end of the sortie at 15 minutes versus the 90 minutes scheduled to be airborne to complete the operational check flight.

"We met both objectives today: get the aircraft airborne and start local area operations," said Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the Air Force's first F-35 pilot who tested the aircraft at Edwards AFB, Calif. "Our team did the most conservative thing by deciding to bring the plane back. We trained for this many times in the simulator for this exact reason."...

More mundane stuff at the URL JUMP! Rolling Eyes

[Beware the IDEs (15th) of March] Twisted Evil

http://www.afmc.af.mil/shared/media/pho ... 98-001.jpg

F-16.net Sponsor

Why would you even publicize this in that manner? Something more restrained and less glowing would seem more appropriate.

Best I can tell, you have to be in the air to dominate it, Chrissy.

Last edited by maus92 on Mar 07, 2012 - 01:43 AM; edited 1 time in total

Certainly not an auspicious first flight. But the pilot did exactly what was necessary to prevent the incident from developing into a mishap.

The next question is was there actually a leak? There has been mention of F-35s developing leaks leading to the scrubbing of test flights.

[Apparently there was - see below]

Chase pilot discovered the leak:

"The Fighter took off into a brilliant blue sky, cruising fifteen minutes without a hitch.

Then a pilot flying behind the F-35 saw something wrong.

Col. Andrew Toth "One of the reasons we have a chase ship out there is to detect any problems they may see. As the chase was following the F-35, he noticed some fluid leaking out of the aircraft"

The F-35 pilot followed procedure, declaring an "in-flight emergency" and landing immediately.

Lt. Col Eric Smith "We trained in this exact situation in the simulator. That's why we do the simulators the way we do them. So a small little fuel leak, we've covered that in the simulator multiple times."

Wing Commander Andrew Toth says there will be more "discoveries", as they call them, though nobody wanted one today."

Note that Smith characterized the leak as "small, little," though large enough to visibly vent outside the aircraft.

http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stor ... 0990.shtml

I, as a sideliner, do not perceive anything wrong with this thread so far FWIW. Even suspicion of a fluid loss would require RTB if the pilot detected it. Reporting the event is no crime. The flight is a first step, when sh!t tends to occur.

There are more opportune times to sh!t than others. The winning dog often takes a quick sh!t when walking up to the starting line and before the race begins.

VV:

Why didn't they launch two then?

What are the odds of a fuel leak (or any problem) on both aircraft? Shocked

For important flights, we used to call this a spare.

It's entirely possible that some pelican poo bounced off the aircraft and got witnessed. Or that maintence left a slurpee mega that deslurped in a warm wheel well and ditto. Both pilot and aircraft are safe and sound. The program is on track. I look forward to reviewing future reports.

Didn't the F-117 lose one of its tails during it's inaugural flight? What's a little leak between friends?

No spare pilots, only one AF and one Marine rated to fly their respective variants at Eglin. Doubt the AF would want press coverage of an AF crewed aircraft returning early while the USMC crewed one remained airborne. They did what was right.

Unless I'm mistaken 'the powers that be' have heard 'outlaw162' to change the original story headline to something else by same writer at a different command website. To wit:

Eglin launches first F-35 Posted 3/6/2012 by Chrissy Cuttita Team Eglin Public Affairs

http://www.aetc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123292785

marksengineer wrote:

No spare pilots, only one AF and one Marine rated to fly their respective variants at Eglin. Doubt the AF would want press coverage of an AF crewed aircraft returning early while the USMC crewed one remained airborne. They did what was right.

There was only one F-35 variant airborne -- an F-35A, since the 'B's do not yet have an MFR.

Now the old MAC (AMC) phrase, "You're the only crew available.", can be paired with latest AETC/ACC phrase,

"It's the only aircraft available."

LMAO

Just a fuel leak, guys...

Watch it with the burner plume, guys. It's all fun and games until the flame of the dump/leak plume catches up with the aircraft Confused

How fast do you think a flame travels?

That ain't gonna happen (just ask a Vark pilot doing a dump and burn).

Forum: General F-35 Forum

First flight means first step toward future air dominance