BF-02 Supersonic

rayraley: RT @LockheedMartin: Another #F-35 milestone: First STOVL variant flew supersonic (Mach 1.05) yesterday at PAX River NAS #LM

Zoom zoom zoom...

The question I am having is, Did it use AB or was it a mil power?

More like BOOM, not zoom....

The question I am having is, Did it use AB or was it a mil power?

Why? A clean Viper w/PW-229 or GE-129 can break MACH in MIL. Nothing impressive there.

One needs to remember the F-35/F135 is NOT designed as a 'super-cruise' platform. The F-22/F119 on the other hand can 'super-cruise' near the vMAX of the F-35...

TEG

Any pics? I'd love to see that bad girl with the condensation cloud around it

I would kick it into full afterburner and see what it can really do. lets see if it go mach 1.6 for its max or it can go much faster then that.

I would kick it into full afterburner and see what it can really do. lets see if it go mach 1.6 for its max or it can go much faster then that.

I'm sure once the envelope opens up, they'll take it up to see what it'll do. I'm guessing there are other test points that have much higher priority though.

F-35B BF-2 flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time on June 10th, 2010. The supersonic milestone was achieved on the 30th flight. USMC pilot Lt. Col. Matt Kelly climbed to 30,000 feet and accelerated to Mach 1.07 in the off-shore supersonic test track near NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. [USN photo by Liz Goette]

Anyone know what the problem is with the liftfan driveshaft necessitating a redesign? How big a problem is it and waht impact will it have on the test schedule? The USMC expects to go IOC December 2012.

I hear they have replace liftfan driveshaft .

Anyone know what the problem is with the liftfan driveshaft necessitating a redesign? How big a problem is it and waht impact will it have on the test schedule? The USMC expects to go IOC December 2012.

Got a source?

I don't have a subscription so can't provide any details, sorry.

http://defense.iwpnewsstand.com/websear ... 10_june23d)%3E

popcorn, I don't have a subscription either however someone has posted this tidbit:

“DOD, Lockheed Agree On Redesign Of JSF Drive Shaft Critical To Marine Corps Plans

http://defense.iwpnewsstand.com/insider ... e=06242010

"The Defense Department and Lockheed Martin have agreed to a new design of a component critical to the Marine Corps’ variant of the Joint Strike Fighter — a drive shaft connecting the main engine to the vertical lift fan that will be incorporated into the F-35B if test flights in the coming months validate recent durability concerns.

On June 10, plans for a new drive shaft passed muster with government and contractor officials conducting a critical design review. They gave the green light to proceed with the production of the new component, which if necessary may be incorporated into Joint Strike Fighter aircraft built under the next production batch -- low rate initial production lot 4, according to a Lockheed official.

“Delivery of the first redesigned drive shaft for testing is scheduled for late 2010,” John Kent, a spokesman for Lockheed Martin, said in a written response to questions from InsideDefense.com.”

To me IF is a BIG word. Here is the link again:

http://defense.iwpnewsstand.com/insider ... e=06242010

To me IF is a BIG word.

Yaaa! … Either redesign it, or time change it at more frequent intervals if issues are surfacing!

That is one component you don’t want to try and save money on … I’m sure it’s one catastrophic drive shaft failure per aircraft it lets go in flight!

I have read that the drive shaft in STOVL flight is closely monitored by the automatic ejection system. IF the drive shaft fails in the STOVL condition the pilot is automatically ejected - no matter what. Otherwise if close to the ground he has no time to reacte, think or whatever. He has to go, get out and walk (swim/paddle).