Acceleration for F-35

Are there any acceleration or time to climb figures from standstill for the F-35 yet?

Yes, and No.

Any links/info.?

Same as clean block 50 F-16. No time to climb data AFAIK.

Probably a bit outdated, but gives a rough idea. The colored chart is range, speed/acceleration and manoeuvrability.

/BB

original PDF link?

So that's Mach 0.6 - Mach 0.95 at 15,000ft level flight if I'm reading it right.

That's what it looks like, and it seems to be from flight test data. So the A is as quick as a Viper (nothing new there), the B is as quick as a viper with bags (subsonic, would likely blow past it trans/supersonic), and the big wing on the C slows it down beyond that. All in all, those are pretty good numbers.

I wonder if the F-16C acceleration with tanks is with tanks full or empty? I also wonder what the fuel state is in those acceleration figures? Also are these numbers calculated with downrated (end-of-life) engines on F-35 as in current range calculations?

In the text it says that F-35 has equal or better maneuverability in air-to-air configuration to F-16C. In air-to-ground configuration it has better maneuverability due to more powerful engine and lower air resistance (drag).

It'd be interesting to know the equal numbers for EF Typhoon and Dassault Rafale (and Russian products also).

On that acceleration diagram, which block is that F-16C?

I would have to guess it is tanks empty. the difference in times is such that I doubt it could overcome the additional mass AND the drag with such a small % increase in time.

As for which block, does it matter that much? If it's a 30 then it's a hot rod but if its a 42 then it's a dog? no model of the Viper has ever been described as sluggish in subsonic acceleration.

Let me translate the Norwegian text in this slide:

Just guessing, but I would think they are using the Norwegian version of the F-16 for comparison, which is a F-16A MLU.



Reach - F-35 have significantly longer reach with the same weapon-load. Equally it has the possibility of longer endurance

Speed/Acceleration - F-16 is described as a Mach 2 fighter but as soon as one hangs weapon on it the speed is limited to Mach 1.6 or lower. Equipped for the mission both aircraft falls within the same speed and acceleration zone.

Maneuvering - In air-to-air the F-35 has equal or better maneuvering capabilities compared to the F-16. In air-to-ground configuration the F-35 has better maneuvering mainly due the powerful engine and lower drag due to internal carriage of the weapons.

Thanks for the translation. So it's possible that the F-16 data listed (and the F-35 data) is for mission loadouts.

That's in afterburner, correct?
Wasn't one of the qualities of the F135 that its wet/dry thrust ratio was relatively low?

Isn't the F-16A MLU rather underpowered since it uses F100-PW-220? Then again, the chart does say the more powerful F-16C.