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F-35 Lightning II News

F-35 completes first ground taxi test

December 8, 2006 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The F-35 Lightning II moved under its own power for the first time on Thursday afternoon, initiating the last series of tests before the fighter jet's first flight.

F-35 powers out to the runway. On Thursday 07 December 2006, history was made as the F-35 Lightning II moved under its own power for the first time at LM Aero in Fort Worth. After a series of systems checks, the F-35 headed-out to begin low-speed taxi tests. The jet traveled at up to 30 knots on the runway, testing systems such as brakes and nosewheel steering in advance of first flight. [LMTAS photo]

After a series of systems checks at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, F-35 Chief Pilot Jon Beesley advanced the throttle and the F-35 moved out of its hangar to begin taxi tests. The jet then traveled at up to 30 knots (~ 35 m.p.h.) on the runway, testing systems such as throttle, brakes and nosewheel steering in advance of first flight.

Today the aircraft received flight certification. This means the aircraft is certified to operate within the allowable flight envelope.

Medium and high-speed taxi tests of 65 knots (~ 75 m.p.h.) and 80 knots (~ 92 m.p.h.) are planned next, weather permitting.

Although the date for first flight is not definite, the first flight window will be from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on the first possible date after final taxi tests are complete and when all conditions – weather, etc. – are "go."

The first Lightning II is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan, the most powerful engine ever installed in a fighter aircraft. Powering the low-speed taxi test is one in a series of significant milestones the F135 engine has accomplished.

In October, the F135 engine was granted Initial Flight Release by the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), which declared all F135 tests and verification reports complete. The engine has recently surpassed 6,600 hours of ground testing in addition to the more than 3,600 hours accumulated during the concept demonstration phase of the F-35 program.


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Additional images:

The F-35 Lightning II rolls out on December 7th, 2006 at NAS Fort Worth to conduct taxi tests. [Photo by Keith Robinson]