The F-35 Thread

[Invader ZIM]

LOL, not much substance in that report.

 

Meanwhile, at Eglin:

 

http://www.eglin.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123412679

 

33rd Fighter Wing surpasses 5,000 combined F-35 sorties

 

Meanwhile, in Australia: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/jsf-the-only-way-to-fly-into-future/story-fn59nlz9-1226936460799

 

Working with allies: http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123412528

 

5/28/2014 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An F-35 Lightning II, BF-17, piloted by Air Force test pilot Lt. Col. Jonathan Ohman, F-35 Integrated Test Force, performs interoperability testing with two British Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons over the ranges at Edwards AFB, Calif., April 4. BF-17 is a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35 and is operated by the U.S. Marine Corps.

 

 

The RAF typhoons visited the California High Desert for the interoperability testing with F-35s.

 

BF-17 arrived March 2013 to conduct mission system testing throughout the System Development and Demonstration phase. Testing at Edwards will play a critical role in reaching the 2014 initial operational capability for the Marines.

 

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/may/150529ae_f-35-achieves-three-milestones-on-same-day.html

 

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. and NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Md, May 29, 2014 – In three separate flight tests on May 27, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II aircraft demonstrated air-to-air combat capability, completed the first flight test with the next level software load and accomplished a landing at the maximum test speed and drop rate.

 

In the Point Mugu Sea Test Range airspace off the Central California coast, an F-35B demonstrated the jet’s air-to-air combat capability when it sequentially engaged two aerial targets with two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) during a Weapon Delivery Accuracy mission.

 

Test pilot Lt. Col. Andrew ‘Growler’ Allen tracked two maneuvering drone targets, making the very first dual AMRAAM shot from any F-35 variant, and the first live AMRAAM shot from the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.

Edited June 2, 2014 by Invader ZIM

[SkateZilla]

http://gizmodo.com/the-f-35-fighter-plane-is-even-more-of-a-mess-than-you-1584580246/all

 

I love how these sites with little to no knowledge just copy/paste other peoples rant stories...

[Invader ZIM]

Pretty much, and the posts under such articles only illustrate the public lack of knowledge about these systems.

[Rangi]

http://www.janes.com/article/38523/all-three-f-35-variants-pass-test-milestones

[Invader ZIM]

The only things I can think of for the USMC to have the STOVL variant is the sort of carriers that would be capable of fielding the aircraft.

 

You have a fleet of these:

 

 

Now replace those harriers and add this:

 

 

And you multiply the capabilities, as well as almost double the amount of first day of the war fixed wing carrier force.

 

More low observable, multi role aircraft in more places at once isn't a bad thing I'd imagine.

 

And this would probably give the marines the ability for deep strike, counter air, recon, and elint deep into contested territory. Since they are stealthy, it would also allow the F-35's to operate near inland SAM threats in support of beach landings.

 

It's a leap in capability versus what they can do with the Harrier currently, and they would be less reliant on the US Navy Carrier battle groups.

Edited June 3, 2014 by Invader ZIM

[NineLine]

[Pilotasso]

F-35 fleet grounded for good reason:

 

[Esac_mirmidon]

Same blades like the T-50?

[Invader ZIM]

So... How many F-35's have been flying? Accumulating over 15,000 actual flying hours total?

 

http://news.usni.org/2014/06/24/eglin-f-35-operations-suspended-following-plane-fire

 

“Flights for the F-35A CTOL [conventional takeoff and landing] aircraft are temporarily suspended today,” said 1st Lt. Hope Cronin, a public relations officer for the 33rd Fighter Wing. “The F-35Bs and F-35Cs are on a weather pause at this time as Florida weather is rather disagreeable at the moment.”

 

The rest of the F-35A fleet is flying however according to Joint Program Office spokesman Joe DellaVedova. “Experts are working root cause,” he said.

 

The fact that the F-35A fleet is still flying suggests that a design flaw is not suspected as a cause of the fire.

 

This is the first incident this severe for the JSF during the life of the tri-service program.

 

There are currently 104 Joint Strike Fighters in the U.S. inventory — split between U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S.

Marine Corps variants, according to information from Lockheed.

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/24/us-lockheed-fighter-idUSKBN0EZ2J320140624

 

(Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force said it will resume flights of Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 A-model fighter jets at a Florida air base on Wednesday, two days after one of the jets caught fire while preparing for takeoff.

 

"We intend to resume flights of the F-35As tomorrow," 1st Lieutenant Hope Cronin, a spokeswoman for the Air Force 33rd Fighter Wing, said on Tuesday. The unit trains Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy pilots to fly the new jets at Eglin Air Force Base.

 

The Air Force ordered a temporary halt in F-35A flights on Monday after a fire broke out in the rear of the plane, forcing the pilot to abort his takeoff.

 

Updated Reuters: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/military/top-story/f-35-flight-suspension-to-continue-1.337525

 

EGLIN AFB — Flights of the Air Force’s version of the F-35 fighter jet will remain suspended indefinitely here after one of the planes caught on fire on the runway on Monday.

 

“We found additional evidence and information in the initial safety investigation to decide to continue with the suspension of flights,” said Air Force Lt. Hope Cronin, a spokeswoman for the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base on Wednesday.

 

Initially, officials had said flights would resume Wednesday.

 

The fire began in the back of an Air Force F-35 during takeoff at the base on Monday. The pilot was able to safely shut down the engine and get out of the plane, and no injuries were reported.

 

The Air Force has 26 F-35s at Eglin.

 

The suspension will not affect flights of the Marines and Navy versions of the aircraft and is so far limited only to Eglin.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Invader ZIM

[Weta43]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/04/us-grounds-entire-f-35-fighter-jet-fleet/print

 

"The Pentagon's F-35 program office, air force and navy issued directives on Thursday ordering the suspension of all F-35 flights after a fire on an air force F-35A jet at Eglin air force base in Florida on 23 June, according to statements by the Pentagon and the F-35 program office. "

[Emu]

There's an excellent Air International F-35 Special out at the moment. Just thought I'd give a heads up.

[Python]

Just came to say the same thing, £1 off if you subscribe to any of their mags usually (Airfix model world, airforces monthly etc)

 

https://shop.keypublishing.com/product/View/productCode/F35SPEC/F-35%20-%20An%20Air%20Warfare%20Revolution?dm_i=4JU,2LYE7,1T4ZDI,9J4CU,1

[Emu]

http://militaryrussia.ru/forum/download/file.php?id=28256

 

AAQ-40 EOTS

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.janes.com/article/34213/singapore-airshow-2014-mbda-expects-spear-to-be-in-service-by-2020

 

Edited July 5, 2014 by Emu

[Esac_mirmidon]

[leafer]

ZZtcyaTi8c4

 

Well, Billy likes it. :D He also works for Apple.

Edited July 10, 2014 by leafer

[Milli]

^^

An F-34. Cool, a new fighter!

[tflash]

No-show @ Farnborough: http://aviationweek.com/awin-only/f-35-lightning-ii-will-not-strike-farnborough

[beaupower32]

...

Edited May 29, 2015 by beaupower32

[ericoh]

ZZtcyaTi8c4

 

Well, Billy likes it. :D He also works for Apple.

 

 

lol. Damn marketing videos, wish we would get any real infos, not just "omg its so great and stealthy and better then everything!!"

[outlawal2]

lol. Damn marketing videos, wish we would get any real infos, not just "omg its so great and stealthy and better then everything!!"

 

Well if you were the guy that has the opportunity to fly one of these what do you think you would say? Especially considering this is still a WIP?

 

"This thing is a complete pig and a total waste of money.."

 

Followed immediately with

 

"Would you like fries with that?"

 

LOL

[NineLine]

lol. Damn marketing videos, wish we would get any real infos, not just "omg its so great and stealthy and better then everything!!"

 

Yes, listing all its faults and/or weaknesses would save other countries billions their espionage budgets for sure... :)

[ericoh]

Well if you were the guy that has the opportunity to fly one of these what do you think you would say? Especially considering this is still a WIP?

 

"This thing is a complete pig and a total waste of money.."

 

Followed immediately with

 

"Would you like fries with that?"

 

LOL

 

I've been working in marketing for quiet some time. I quit. :D To answer your question, Yes, i would be the guy to call this thing what it is if i knew anything in-depth about it. Lies stink.

 

Yes, listing all its faults and/or weaknesses would save other countries billions their espionage budgets for sure...

 

He could have at least talked about things that needed to be optimized still, ANYTHING with value realy, this was just "blablabla so great".

 

 

Edited July 16, 2014 by ericoh

[Mike Busutil]

This is a video capture of a missle test on AA-1 and has nothing to do with the current condition of the fleet. Make sure your facts are straight before you post....

 

 

 

 

Nice Beaupower! :D

[beaupower32]

...

Edited May 29, 2015 by beaupower32

[hypersonik]

so "MFD"... feed would to to helmet or IPAD (TGP with locked target for example.