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F-35 Lightning II News
Pratt & Whitney F135 certified to power Lightning II's first flight
October 23, 2006 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
The F135 has achieved Initial Flight Release from the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO). Robert Burnes, JPO F-35 propulsion director, has declared all F135 tests and verification reports complete, clearing the F-35 Lightning II to fly.
The JPO has certified the F135's flight worthiness to power the F-35 Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) flight test program. "Receiving the JPO's Initial Flight Release is an important milestone for the Joint Strike Fighter program and the F135 team. JPO approval qualifies the Pratt & Whitney engine to power the Lightning II first flight and flight test program," said Bill Gostic, vice president, F135 engine programs for Pratt & Whitney. "It validates the F135 production configuration."
Pratt & Whitney is the lead propulsion system supplier for the F-35 program. The F-35 recently completed its first series of F135 engine runs culminating in a full afterburner test with 40,000 pounds of thrust. The F135 engine is on schedule to begin taxi testing this fall.
The technologically advanced F135 is an evolution of Pratt & Whitney's highly successful F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor. Together the F135 and F119 will have logged more than 800,000 hours before the F-35's introduction into operational service in 2012. Rated at more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most powerful fighter engine ever built.
The F135 propulsion system team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor with responsibility for the main engine and system integration; Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom, providing lift components for the STOVL F-35B; and UTC's Hamilton Sundstrand unit, provider of the F135's control system, external accessories and gearbox.
A Pratt & Whitney F135 flight test engine in full afterburner running at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas. At 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most powerful fighter engine ever built. [Pratt & Whitney photo]
Pratt & Whitney is the lead propulsion system supplier for the F-35 program. The F-35 recently completed its first series of F135 engine runs culminating in a full afterburner test with 40,000 pounds of thrust. The F135 engine is on schedule to begin taxi testing this fall.
The technologically advanced F135 is an evolution of Pratt & Whitney's highly successful F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor. Together the F135 and F119 will have logged more than 800,000 hours before the F-35's introduction into operational service in 2012. Rated at more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most powerful fighter engine ever built.
The F135 propulsion system team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor with responsibility for the main engine and system integration; Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom, providing lift components for the STOVL F-35B; and UTC's Hamilton Sundstrand unit, provider of the F135's control system, external accessories and gearbox.
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- Mighty F-35 Lightning II engine roars to life ( 2006-09-20)
- Pratt & Whitney F135 program cleared for installed ground engine runs and taxi testing ( 2006-08-25)
- Pratt & Whitney delivers third flight test F135 engine for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ( 2006-08-02)
- Second flight test F135 Engine for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ( 2006-06-30)
- Pratt & Whitney's F135 program completes 1,000th test hour ( 2004-09-30)
- F-35 Lightning II news archive
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Additional images:
The F-35 Lightning II lights its afterburner during a ground test at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday afternoon, September 18th. The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine is the most powerful engine ever in a jet fighter, producing 40,000 pounds of thrust. [LMTAS photo]