F-35C Lands at Lakehurst For Testing

Besides 'dampener' we (or I) have a new nomenclature to puzzle over (yes virginia I won't bang on about it but google it for gorsake!) SHIVES. You heard it here 'frist'. But but but sir... Ward Carroll should know the correct term so I wonder if it was just a subedit error. Anyhoo...

JSF’s Trouble Stopping on the Boat by Ward Carroll on October 24, 2012

http://defensetech.org/2012/10/24/jsfs- ... -the-boat/

"...The first 10 times the F-35 tried to perform an arrested landing — with experienced test pilots at the controls – the airplane only caught a wire three times.

You don’t need to be a tailhooker to figure out that that percentage won’t work out in the fleet. Jets come back from missions usually with a handful of looks at the deck at most, and if a pilot puts his craft in the wires, he should have confidence he’s going to stop....

...Arresting wires don’t lay directly on the flight deck; they’re elevated by curved pieces of metal known as “shives.” So the engineers’ first thought was to raise the shives so that the hook might have a better chance of catching. But the Navy wasn’t keen on tackling a ship modification when the system worked fine for every other airplane, so the engineers looked at changing the JSF hook point instead.

The result is a tailhook with a sharper point that sources tell us appears to have solved the problem.

And so we have another data point around why we do flight testing and why it takes so long for airplanes to reach the fleet … besides the convoluted DoD procurement process...."

Ward Carroll is a jokester AND as always best to read entire post at URL (URLy boid catches de woim?). Whatever.

FROM:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... /14310.pdf

H/T SNAFU. First Fly In Arrest Photo:

"10 August 2012: Navy Lt. Chris Tabert accomplished the first fly-in arrestment into the MK-7 arresting gear cable by an F-35C at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey."

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L3HFAh2vyE8/U ... 7_4739.jpg
____________

Also from: http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=111

"10 August 2012: First F-35C Fly-In Arrestment
Navy Lt. Chris Tabert accomplished the first fly-in arrestment into the MK-7 arresting gear cable by an F-35C at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Using an interim arresting hook system, an engineering team composed of F-35 Joint Program Office, Naval Air Systems Command, and industry officials conducted tests to assess cable dynamics, aircraft loads, and performance on F-35C CF-3. During testing, Tabert achieved five of eight attempts into the arresting gear. Completing these tests enabled the F-35 program to improve the redesigned arresting hook system. Engineering design reviews will continue, culminating in initial sea trials projected for spring 2014."

Rrreeeppeated from another post about the overall report [ http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... 154#241154 ] but relevant here:

http://timemilitary.files.wordpress.com ... report.pdf (0.5Mb)

Air System-Ship Integration and Ship Suitability Testing
F-35C
• A redesign of the arresting hook system for the F-35C to correct the inability to consistently catch cables and compensate for greater than predicted loads took place in 2012. The redesign includes modified hook point shape to catch the wire, one-inch longer shank to improve point of entry, addition of damper for end-of-stroke loads, increased size of upswing damper and impact plate, addition of end-of-stroke snubber. In 2012, the following occurred:
-- Initial loads and sizing study completed showed higher than predicted loads, impacting the upper portion of the arresting hook system (referred to as the “Y frame,” where loads are translated from the hook point to the aircraft) and hold down damper (January 2012)
-- Risk reduction activities, including cable rollover dynamics testing at Patuxent River (March 2012), deck obstruction loads tests at Lakehurst (April 2012)
-- Flight tests with CF-3 using new hook point and new hold down damper design at Lakehurst (August 2012)
-- 72 of 72 successful roll-in tests with MK-7 and E-28 gear
-- 5 of 8 successful fly-in tests; 3 of 8 bolters (missed wire)
-- Preliminary design review of updated design completed (August 15, 2012)..."

This VIDEO info is repeated here [ http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-22010.html ] but replicate now on this thread due long running saga 'F-35C cannot land on forFsakeSaga'....

2012 F-35 Year in Review NAVAIRSYSCOM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... s8Q6LwDMcs

"Published on Jan 17, 2013
Highlights of the flight test accomplishments by the Patuxent River F-35 Integrated Test Force in 2012. Includes weapons separations and arrested landings."

SLO MO Video snippet is already in the main video but now slowed again by one/eighth again and uploaded here.

WHEN THE VIDEO is playing don't forget to right click on it to select ZOOM > FULL SCREEN - there is time!

And yes in this instance the main wheels touchdown before the arrest wire to roll over the wire and get it bouncing before the hook takes the wire.
_____________________________

ONlineSloMoSLomOHiDeF version:

F-35C Arrest SloMo Orig NOW 1-8slow Again HiDef

http://youtu.be/LFbsH7tsyHY

N.B. The GREEN Light (no not in the HMDS II) on the nosewheel strut is visible showing the F-35C is NOT at Optimum Angle of Attack before touchdown etc. I would assume that a similar ORANGE light will show Opt AoA while RED will show FAST. Perhaps this was part of the test or just inadvertent. Who is to know but let us blame the pilot.

-- 5 of 8 successful fly-in tests; 3 of 8 bolters (missed wire)

Iam not sure what the target or benchmark rate is from legacy craft but it looks like there is still quite a bit of work to do there, with such a grab rate you run the risk of having craft bolt multiple times which would put quite a strain on return rates and logistics (ie the possibility of having to refuel returning craft for multiple attempts). I cant imagine that the navy are feeling too happy at the moment, the C is really overdue some good news and LM need to put a hell of a lot of work in if they want to overcome set backs like shown in the pentagon report.

However we can assume I think we see the interim hook design change which does not include an optimised hold down damper. Look a few pages back. No need for doom/gloom at this stage. [Actually the quote I was looking for is at the top of this thread page but repeated here]:

"Navy Lt. Chris Tabert accomplished the first fly-in arrestment into the MK-7 arresting gear cable by an F-35C at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Using an interim arresting hook system, an engineering team composed of F-35 Joint Program Office, Naval Air Systems Command, and industry officials conducted tests to assess cable dynamics, aircraft loads, and performance on F-35C CF-3. During testing, Tabert achieved five of eight attempts into the arresting gear. Completing these tests enabled the F-35 program to improve the redesigned arresting hook system. Engineering design reviews will continue, culminating in initial sea trials projected for spring 2014."

Because F-35C Aircraft Carrier Testing is some time off I'll post this 9 page informative PDF about aircraft testing onboard before I forget. I'll imagine it is relevant in a general sense to today for the F-35C....

EVALUATING FIXED WING AIRCRAFT IN THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ENVIRONMENT ADA244869 May 1991

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD ... tTRDoc.pdf

[quote="whitewhale...Iam not sure what the target or benchmark rate is....[/quote]

Woe is me....not! The Canoe Club will develop the required design before ship trials, this spring (2013). These test were for the newly revised hook, without the hold-down damper as it will be certified at Lakehurst before the "Sea" goes out to the boat. If you can't wait for the show, then hang your head and cry! The "Sea" will come aboard in the same manner (as conventionally approriate for a CVN) as the "Bee" came aboard the Wasp. If your are waiting for the "no show" to put egg on the face, then do so with appropriate "baited breath". I, on the other hand am looking forward to the precision approach with JPALS and the precise arrestment that the system is capable of attaining. Obviously with "fair winds and calm seas"! The interesting part will be with 20- 30 knot gusting crosswinds and 15- 20 ft. seas; not my "cup of tea"! but "Bonnie weather for an Aviator.

'neptune' still the same precision even in inclement weather. 'BaitedBref' I like compared to 'Bated Breath'. Good for the BLACKshoes (fishheads) Lollygagging in the Goofers (Vultures Row).

F-35 JSF Testers Report Progress, Problems By Guy Norris, Graham Warwick — With Amy Butler and Bill Sweetman in Washington. Source: Aviation Week & Space Technology 21 Jan 2013

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 03.xml&p=2

"...A new tailhook for the CV will undergo its critical design review within a month and is scheduled to be installed in test aircraft at Pax River by year-end [2012?]. After the F-35C had problems catching the arrester cables, the hook point, shank and dampers were redesigned. The concept was demonstrated last August at NAS Lakehurst, N.J., when aircraft CF-3 made five successful engagements, McFarlan says...."

Some three FlyInArrests but are they the same? Dunno. Go here for the big picture: http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopi ... 294fe.html

OR go to Utube for the short clip shown below also: http://youtu.be/POHXQzpKRdk F-35C Flyin Arrests 2012

$245 MILLION FACE-LIFT FOR S.D. FLATTOP
Overhaul work adds defensive weapons, upgrades bathrooms, sleeping areas & communication systems on carrier Vinson By Jeanette Steele 17 Feb 2013

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb ... t&page=all

"...‘Three wire’ gets a name
Down in the guts of the Vinson, an enormous contraption fills a room. The name “Betsy” is painted on the side. This is the No. 3 arresting gear engine.

When jets land on the flight deck, they aim to “hit” the “three wire.” That means they are trained to land so that the hook attached to the plane’s tail grabs the third of four cables stretched across the Vinson’s deck — in most cases, the strategically safest position to hit.

That’s when Betsy goes into action. The No. 3 cable threads down through this engine, which uses hydraulic fluid and compressed air to hold the cable fast, stopping the jet.

Betsy used to be maintained by sailors who eyeballed her gauges and readouts, looking for any sign of malfunction. Now those sailors, like Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Anthony Costante, watch a digital touchscreen for any sign of trouble.

“Before, it was all just eyesight and maintenance and experience,” Costante said. “Now, it’ll tell you all the pressures by the computer. … It’s supposed to be safer.”

Each of the five arresting gear engines got the upgrade to touchscreens.

Only the ship’s No. 3 engine has a name. Apparently, if you are an airplane pilot on the Vinson, you want Betsy to be your only girl...."

On the new Ford CVN will 'two' be the new 'three'?

From a JPALS/LSO Brief of some kind (maybe I'll find the URL later). X marks the hook touchdown spot (HTDP).

[b]$245 MILLION FACE-LIFT FOR S.D. FLATTOP
Overhaul work adds .... “Now, it’ll tell you all the pressures by the computer. … It’s supposed to be safer.” ......."

Outstanding quote from an AB-1....

I'll bet he doesn't know where the on/off switch (for the computer) is located.

Just think, these sailors are soon to migrate to the Advanced Arresting Gear on the Ford and hopefully sooner on one of the Nimitz CVNs. How will they ever get comfortable without the mechanical complexity???