Fighter Jet News
F-35 Lightning II News
F-35 surpasses 8,000 hours of wind tunnel testing
September 14, 2006 (by
Philip Lorenz) -
The Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) just completed aerodynamic testing on two variants of the F-35 Lightning II to support flight testing of the plane later this year.
With this latest test, the center surpassed 8,000 hours of F-35 testing in the 16-foot transonic wind tunnel (16T) facility in support of the System Design and Development phase of the program.
High-speed force and moment data gathered from a Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) and Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35 models will go into a database along with computer-aided analysis for performance analysis and flight control design and validation before flight testing can begin.
"This is the final high-speed test for our CTOL and STOVL aerodynamic performance and stability control databases on our 1/12-scale model," said Kim Kohrs, an F-35 stability and control analyst with Lockheed Martin. "We've done various testing of low speed and high speed un-powered force and moment testing for CTOL and STOVL through the years. This test is our last entry to conclude those databases."
Marc Skelley, an Air Force project manager in AEDC's 716th Test Squadron, added, "This test along with aerodynamic testing on the Navy’s carrier version later this year will finish up all of our scheduled F-35 wind tunnel testing in 16T during the System Development and Demonstration phase."
The CTOL is the U.S. Air Force variant that will replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II and complement the F-22A Raptor. The U.S. Marine Corps is due to receive the STOVL F-35 variant to replace the AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18 Hornet. The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy also will fly the STOVL variant.
Tim Wright, an ATA craftsman, examines a Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35 model in the 16-foot transonic wind tunnel during a model change. The information from this testing, the final entry in a series of tests, will go into a large database to refine and validate the aircraft designs for flight testing and ultimately, production of the CTOL and STOVL F-35 variants. [LMTAS photo]
High-speed force and moment data gathered from a Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) and Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35 models will go into a database along with computer-aided analysis for performance analysis and flight control design and validation before flight testing can begin.
"This is the final high-speed test for our CTOL and STOVL aerodynamic performance and stability control databases on our 1/12-scale model," said Kim Kohrs, an F-35 stability and control analyst with Lockheed Martin. "We've done various testing of low speed and high speed un-powered force and moment testing for CTOL and STOVL through the years. This test is our last entry to conclude those databases."
Marc Skelley, an Air Force project manager in AEDC's 716th Test Squadron, added, "This test along with aerodynamic testing on the Navy’s carrier version later this year will finish up all of our scheduled F-35 wind tunnel testing in 16T during the System Development and Demonstration phase."
The CTOL is the U.S. Air Force variant that will replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II and complement the F-22A Raptor. The U.S. Marine Corps is due to receive the STOVL F-35 variant to replace the AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18 Hornet. The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy also will fly the STOVL variant.
Courtesy of Arnold Engineering Development Center Public Affairs
Related articles:
Forum discussion:
Tags
- Pratt & Whitney F135 program cleared for installed ground engine runs and taxi testing ( 2006-08-25)
- AEDC performs mission critical tests on F-35 model ( 2006-08-22)
- Pratt & Whitney delivers third flight test F135 engine for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ( 2006-08-02)
- F-35 Lightning II news archive
Forum discussion:
- Start a discussion about this article in the F-35 forum.
Tags