F-35 Eglin pod on port wing.

[n3sk]

@ 12:18pm I saw an F-35 heading north over Fort Walton beach extremely low with some sort of a pod on the starboard wing. I’ve been watching F 35’s in the air around here for years and it’s the first time I’ve seen one with any thing external.

Any who, what was that?

[citanon]

Pierre Sprey being finally given a test flight....

[tomcattech]

Pierre Sprey being finally given a test flight....

Nice...

[fbw]

Travel pod?

Think there would be some documentation if a new podded sensor had been integrated.

[ricnunes]

So, travel pod with Pierre Sprey inside?

[steve2267]

@ 12:18pm I saw an F-35 heading north over Fort Walton beach extremely low with some sort of a pod on the starboard wing. I’ve been watching F 35’s in the air around here for years and it’s the first time I’ve seen one with any thing external.

Any who, what was that?

On what wing station was this "pod" mounted?

If it was the outermost wing station on the starboard wing, where one would expect an AIM-9X, then perhaps it was some sort of air-to-air / air-to-ground instrumentation pod. Or... could it have been a captive (i.e. inert) AIM-9X used for IIR seeker integration for training purposes?

[juretrn]

Pierre Sprey.

Pierre Sprey.

Let it go already, Sprey hasn't made a peep in years.

[n3sk]

lol!!!!! I still say the Murder Turkey just in spite. Plus it sticks with the bird theme. Falcon Eagle Raptor... Murder Turkey

I would guess out board. Other thing he lowered his gear early. They fly over a couple times a day and have for the last few years, this guy was low, super quiet, external pod, and lowered gear right before breaking right

I was wondering if he was playing radar games and lowered gear to give away position?

[squirrelshoes]

Let it go already, Sprey hasn't made a peep in years.

July 2017:

https://sputniknews.com/military/201707 ... ensive-uk/
Furthermore, the F-35B would be "lucky to put in half an hour over troops in loiter time,” Pierre remarked. "The maneuverability is terrible, the range is terrible, the payload is terrible," he continued. And due to the lack of maneuverability the F-35’s air-to-air capability is "zilch."

[steve2267]

Let it go already, Sprey hasn't made a peep in years.

July 2017:

https://sputniknews.com/military/201707 ... ensive-uk/
Furthermore, the F-35B would be "lucky to put in half an hour over troops in loiter time,” Pierre remarked. "The maneuverability is terrible, the range is terrible, the payload is terrible," he continued. And due to the lack of maneuverability the F-35’s air-to-air capability is "zilch."

Lt Col Chip Berke, USMC (Ret), dismantled Sprey in the Aviation Week podcast(s), Checksix. The last podcast was on Jul 23, 2017. I don't think we've heard from Sprey since Berke handed Sprey his a$$.

[Dragon029]

@ 12:18pm I saw an F-35 heading north over Fort Walton beach extremely low with some sort of a pod on the starboard wing. I’ve been watching F 35’s in the air around here for years and it’s the first time I’ve seen one with any thing external.

Any who, what was that?

On what wing station was this "pod" mounted?

If it was the outermost wing station on the starboard wing, where one would expect an AIM-9X, then perhaps it was some sort of air-to-air / air-to-ground instrumentation pod. Or... could it have been a captive (i.e. inert) AIM-9X used for IIR seeker integration for training purposes?

This; also as for travel pods, it's been mentioned that there aren't any currently certified for flight, but that there's a decent amount of storage space behind the seat. Really though, if it's a test jet it could be anything.

[steve2267]

This; also as for travel pods, it's been mentioned that there aren't any currently certified for flight, but that there's a decent amount of storage space behind the seat. Really though, if it's a test jet it could be anything.

Description of said pod is still somewhat lacking. I have not heard a definitive statement by the question poster if it was an outboard AIM-9X station or not. For all I know, it could have been the centerline gunpod, which most people would probably not recognized.

I would think they would stick a travel pod inside a weps bay, out of the way. But who knows. Maybe the temps in there are too high for shaving cream.

[juretrn]

Has a travel pod been certified to be carried by the F-35 at all?

[n3sk]

My position was not optimum, He was about 500-100ft west headed north and did not dirtely over fly. I DO NOT posses a degree in aeronautical engineering,my descriptions are going to be in the simplest of terms. Looked larger than a 120 smaller than a wing tank. Kinda boxy, did not look like a standard round bomb.

What originally caught my attention was how low and quiet he was, normally they are very loud. Seeing what appeared to be an unclean aircraft then it lowered the gear, Which I have never seen do at that point i the years of multiple over flights, a couple times a day. They normally wait till the down wind leg to lower gear, and normally make a pass or two down the feild for grins. I have seen it many times so I do not believe I am mixing up the gear going down as I noticed the gear 8-10 seconds later right before he was ablout to go behind the tree line but banked right and headed east.

Any who, just curious and figure if I can see it, it can’t be too important.

[spazsinbad]

I was not there however perhaps the left main gear door was unable to close (after takeoff or touch and go) whilst this aircraft flew by the tower at slow speed (quietly) for tower to confirm the problem and then the pilot lowers the gear (all is green) to land full stop for problem to be sorted? So no real emergency - gear down & locked - just a gear door prob.