Fire damages F-35A

It's ok, I'm sure it will buff out

Sergei Bogdan: Once again, Nyet Tovarisch!!!!!

Anyone know how an F-35 pilot gets out of the pit in an emergency on the ground (such as this one) without the aid of someone on the ground to open the ladder panel & extend it? I could guess but wondering about official egress technique.

This isn't official, but I'm fairly certain the pilot just slides off the side and just deals with the 2-3 meter drop.

I would not doubt that the ladder can be extended from the inside as the door does not likely use any fasteners.

I would not doubt that the ladder can be extended from the inside as the door does not likely use any fasteners.

Perhaps for B and C, but A must jump?

They all use the same system and the only reason I can think of for having to jump is total failure or reduction of the electrical system.

The loss of ICC 2 resulted in less than normal electrical power to the aircraft and a loss of some non-critical functions.

Not sure if the ladder is "critical" or not.

The ladder cannot be extended by the pilot from inside the aircraft as per: [remember no pilot equipment was damaged]

The Making of a Joint Strike Fighter Pilot – Welcome to the fifth generation.
Art Tomassetti, Air & Space magazine, November 2013

“...As part of the perpetual battle to keep weight down, we lost the pilot’s ability to extend the boarding ladder from the cockpit, which is about 12 feet above the ground. But pilots in other airplanes have lived without it, so we had to let it go....”

Source: http://www.airspacemag.com/military-avi ... 70321.html

On F-16.net 'Happy_Gilmore' said "...all other F-35's other than AA-1 have a really cool built in boarding ladder system. In an emergency they just jump over the side, it's actually practiced and timed." http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopi ... r-asc.html

I would not doubt that the ladder can be extended from the inside as the door does not likely use any fasteners.

The door does actually require a 7/32" hex key to open.

There is a series of photos showing a maintainer closing the ladder door but not actually using the key seen in his left hand here: Air International Magazine F-35 Special Edition July 2014

My bad, good catch

JSF PIO confirms fire damaged F-35A will not return to service and will be salvaged for parts:

Whatever Happened to That BBQ-ed F-35?
The Air Force now says it is reusing parts from an F-35A that went up in flames last summer
Popular Mechanics | JUN 22, 2015 @ 11:17 AM

"Now, one year later, the Air Force has decided what to do with the charred aircraft. As Joint Program Office spokesman Joe Dellavedova told Aviation Week: "It is likely parts will be returned to the F-35 spares inventory as appropriate. Other components of the aircraft will be evaluated for potential reuse in other aircraft or training systems.""

http://www.popularmechanics.com/militar ... rred-f-35/

..."Now, one year later, the Air Force has decided what to do with the charred aircraft...

..taking any bids on a smoky charred cockpit???...slight off odor ..OK!...

The cockpit was not affected.

Some 'key/panel' info from... A long article with lots of very interesting other bits - especially about portable ALIS version.

An Update on F-35 Maintenance: The Perspective from the USS WASP and From MCAS Beaufort and Yuma
22 Jun 2015 Robbin Laird

"...The F-35 is the first low observable aircraft to be operated by the maritime services, and requires some changes in how the maintainers support the aircraft, and notably at sea.

The discussion with the Staff Sargent highlighted that the low observable qualities of the aircraft created some specific challenges, and one of those, which he mentioned, was working on the panels.

The panels on the aircraft provide easy access for a number of maintenance functions, but as he described it one change is the impact on the T-handles, which open the panels.

“The panel is opened numerous times a day and we are wearing down T-handles that provide access to the panel and wearing down the fasteners themselves.”

He was asked about the general shift from legacy to LO maintenance and highlighted that the Marines have not operated an LO aircraft before so there is a learning curve.

“There is a drastic increase in awareness when you are working around the aircraft.”..."

Source: http://www.sldinfo.com/an-update-on-f-3 ... -and-yuma/

How do you wear out a T-Handle???

Are they made of aluminum?