Forum: F-35 milestones

SpudmanWP wrote:

..The rate of improvement (Blue line) only needs to be 5% ..

Sorry to not add to the data but, couldn't resist commenting on your parade raining, it appears to be approaching a tropical storm. I'm not sure which, I'm more impressed with; the black hole in the sky, the mission systems or the maintenance computer system; each is a quantum step in improvement.

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???? What parade was I raining on? I do not understand what you were trying to day.

The purpose of the BLUE line was to show what the progression would be like if they improved the rate of testing acceleration by only 5% each quarter. The ORANGE line represents flight testing if they did not change from a 206 flights per qtr schedule (not going to happen) and was used to see the slope of current testing.

For example, last quarter was 206 flights and if it improved by 5% each quarter then the next few quarters would be 216, 227, 238, 250, 263, etc. This would lead the program to finish the 5000 (2007 plan) flights only 1 year behind the 2007 schedule. Considering the progress that the program has made (qtr to qtr) over the past year, my 5% was being very conservative compared to what they have been demonstrating.

btw, I know this is a simplistic way to track testing progress, but we don't have much choice since they do not publish the testing points schedule like they do for the flight tests.

SpudmanWP wrote:

???? What parade was I raining on? ....

Kudos and continue the good work. I agree with what you are indicating and proposing. The "Nay Sayer Parade" is looking rather dismal, in view of your charts and assumptions.

I hope the program succeeds; my personal interest is in the pipeline and heading to Naval Air Station Whiting Field, this summer. They should enter into a F-35C squadron about the time they are planning for the second carrier tour. Things are looking good! Smile

Ah, ok.. only one cup of coffee today, so I was a little slow to pick the reference up Wink

I think you should take the orange line, but add the percentage of jets yet to be utilized by the test sites.

Since last qtr was 206, what do you think the stabilized rate (for all airframes) will be?

Of course the program has made assumptions on predicted flight rates but like most data it is reserved for the need-to-know community.

But using the flight rate from the first quarter is a fair assumption for your exercise. You'll need to increase that flight rate to account for the additional test assets that will be used at the test sites (I wouldn't count the ft worth birds because their productivity is limited due to shakedown/infant mortality issues).

I thought I read somewhere that it would depend on the actual results if it would actually be necessary to conduct the additional test flights imposed earlier this year. Should the test results be sufficiently convincing, the number of additional flights ordered may actually be reduced?

popcorn wrote:

I thought I read somewhere that it would depend on the actual results if it would actually be necessary to conduct the additional test flights imposed earlier this year. Should the test results be sufficiently convincing, the number of additional flights ordered may actually be reduced?

It really depends on the ground rules and assumptions they use to make the flight test schedule. Depending on the way the sausage is made, that may not effect the predictions.

From a test & evaluation philosophy perspective you rarely reduce your test scope because you've already laid out a test plan that is written to achieve a desired level of confidence in the system. You are extremely lucky if you can demonstrate spec compliance confidence with less testing than you planned for. Increasing test scope is definitely more often the case (whether it be fighter jets or cell phones). In the aerospace industry it's called the refly factor and is another way to look at your schedule.

Most of the additional test flights are due to the delay in certifying the simulation labs. Once that is done, then they can remove the flights associated with their respective labs.

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

Second F-35C Completes Inaugural Flight

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 2nd, 2011

--The second F-35C Lightning II carrier variant takes off on its first flight from Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base Friday, April 29. Lockheed Martin F-35 Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti piloted the jet on its first flight. The supersonic F-35C, known as CF-2, is scheduled to fly to NAS Patuxent River, Md., later this year, where it will join the first F-35C and four F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jets to continue flight testing. Smile

http://www.f-16.net/news_article4338.html

F-35s have completed more than 865 flights since flight-testing began in late 2006.

F-35s have completed 547 flights by 2010 end.
so F-35s have completed more than 300 flights this year.

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/news_ite ... tem_id=319

F-35B STOVL Mode Gear Up

Posted 11 May 2011

USMC Lt. Col. Fred Schenk took the F-35B into STOVL mode with gears up for the first time on 6 May 2011. The test, which occurred on Flight 118 for the aircraft (BF-1), was part of the envelope expansion for the F-35B.

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

Lockheed Martin F-35 Program Flight Test Update

May 11th, 2011

-- Since the last F-35 flight test program update issued March 31, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II aircraft have conducted 125 test flights, bringing the total number of flights for the year to 331.

Several flight test key milestones were accomplished since the last report:

The F-35 program flew the most flights ever recorded on one day (May 6) when a combined total of eight test flights were completed at all three of its flight test locations. (Edwards AFB, Calif.; Fort Worth, Texas, and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.)

The U.S. Air Force accepted into its fleet the first of a planned 1,763 production-model F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters when AF-7 was delivered to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on May 6. It is the first aircraft from Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lot one delivered.

The first F-35A production aircraft that will be delivered to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., accomplished its first flight on May 6. Known as AF-8, the aircraft will be delivered to Eglin for pilot and maintainer training later this year. This jet is the first aircraft to fly from Low Rate Initial Production lot two.

The second F-35C carrier variant (CV), known as CF-2 completed its first flight April 29. Later this month it is scheduled to be delivered to the F-35 test fleet at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., (PAX).

The program recorded the 300th System Development and Demonstration flight of 2011 on May 6.
At Edwards, F-35s passed the 250 flight mark of the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant on May 5. The first test jets, AF-1 and AF-2, arrived there on May 17, 2010.
Two more F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jets, BF-3 and BF-4 performed their first vertical landings. BF-4 flew its mission on April 27 and BF-3 on April 29. STOVL jets have conducted 94 vertical landings to date in 2011.

The following totals and highlights capture the overall flight test activity since March 31, and cumulative totals for 2011:

F-35A (CTOL) aircraft conducted 57 flights. In 2011, CTOL jets have flown 146 times.
F-35B (STOVL) aircraft conducted 43 flights. In 2011, STOVL aircraft have completed 144 flights and 84 vertical landings.
F-35C (CV) aircraft accomplished 25 flights. In 2011, CV jets have flown 41 times.
From the start of flight testing in December 2006 through Tuesday, F-35s flew 878 times Very Happy

.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.

neptune wrote:

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/news_item.html?item_id=319

F-35B STOVL Mode Gear Up

When is this part of the envelope used? I'm guessing this allows picking up the gear quickly on takeoff and that it is not an attempt to add "VIFFing" to the Bravo's repertoire.

Would there be a case to be in this configuration on approach? I'm guessing not.

Either way, it makes for an interesting picture. The B usually looks a pick-a-part lot, with all the doors, gears and nozzles akimbo. It doesn't look half-bad in this configuration. (I'm of the opinion the C is the prettiest of the family, made more elegant by the big wing.)

-- Shaken - out --

Forum: F-35 milestones

Overview of F-35 test flights