F-35 - International Participation

[John Newman]

Certainly a big F-35 news day.

First landing and take off from QE, first USMC F-35B to bite the dust, and the announcement of the price drops for LRIP 11:

F-35 price falls below $90M for first time in new deal

A couple of quotes from the article:

The agreement pushes the cost of the F-35A conventional model — used by the U.S. Air Force and most foreign buyers — to $89.2 million per aircraft, a 5.4 percent reduction from the $94.3 million in the 10th batch of aircraft.

The more expensive "B" and "C" models incurred even bigger price cuts. The Marine Corps’ F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing variant’s cost decreased 5.7 percent from $122.4 million to $115.5 million, while the F-35C carrier variant dropped a whopping 11.1 percent from $121.2 million to $107.7 million per unit.

 

[SpazSinbad]

F-35B QUEEN ELIZABETH 1st CVF Operations 25 Sep 2018

 

[SpazSinbad]

HMS Queen Elizabeth first deck landings | Royal Navy [The two test pilots speak]

 

[Stampede]

F-35B QUEEN ELIZABETH 1st CVF Operations 25 Sep 2018

To have 20+ tonnes suspended in the air looking so stable and landing with seemingly so little effort is an amazing bit of engineering.
I have no doubt there is a significant pilot work load and effort by the deck handlers to land this aircraft but as a visual to the layman it is strikingly impressive.

Success to all those involved

Regards S

 

[SpazSinbad]

To have 20+ tonnes suspended in the air looking so stable and landing with seemingly so little effort is an amazing bit of engineering. I have no doubt there is a significant pilot work load and effort by the deck handlers to land this aircraft but as a visual to the layman it is strikingly impressive. Success to all those involved. Regards S

NOPE. There is no significant pilot work load - all that 'slaving over a hot UNIFIED CONTROL SYSTEM' was done over decades earlier with the VAAC Harrier. F-35B pilots press a button (HOOK/STOVL) to go into STOVL MODE 4 from conventional flight below 250 knots. The BEE configures itself automatically. Pilot can press different stick/throttle buttons to go to the hover alongside and then slide across to AUTOMATICALLY land vertically not above maximum vertical downward velocity 12 fps IIRC or a set descent speed to PRECISELY place the nosewheel in a one metre square box. EasyPeasy. More of the landing can be done manually as the pilot decides. The test pilots will carry out all kinds of VLs in all kinds of conditions of WOD etc to make a SHOL [Ships Helicopter [for F-35B VLs] Operational Limit] diagram. I wonder if CVFs will have this? SHOLDS - Ships Helicopter Operational Limit Display System

There are a few first person F-35B pilot accounts of how easy it is to HOVER/VL to a Ship or Ashore. Meanwhile attached is the initial SHOL diagram for the first F-35B test period on USS Wasp LHA (to be validated/changed after the tests obviously). When JPALS is installed & validated the F-35B pilot will be able to press buttons etc. to come alongside to the hover and slide across to land ALL automatically via the marvel of technology.

 

[SpazSinbad]

HMS Queen Elizabeth, F-35B pilot Nathan Gray, interview

HMS Queen Elizabeth, F-35B pilot Andy Edgell, interview

 

[SpazSinbad]

In the second video interview above with SqdnLdr Andy Edgell one may note his comments about how easy it is to VL the F-35B (especially after all the sim work etc.).

 

[SpazSinbad]

UK MoD PR Peeps remain block headed: Thin Pinstriped Line: How not to do Defence Media... F35 trials on QUEEN ELIZABETH

 

[ngatimozart]

UK MoD PR Peeps remain block headed: Thin Pinstriped Line: How not to do Defence Media... F35 trials on QUEEN ELIZABETH

If I didn't know any better, I'd think that it was a script straight out of Yes Minister. Methinks they possibly need a drastic culling of the MOD and start again with personnel who either haven't worked in the public sector or who are ex armed forces.

 

[SpazSinbad]

In anticipation of the question "why don't USMC carry out SRVLs"? Here is a comparison of FLAT DECKS of Various US/UK persuasion. This is the short answer. Long answer depends. VIEW FROM A FLYCO Video also below.

USS America LHA-6: USS America (LHA-6) - Wikipedia
Length: 844 ft (257 m)
Beam: 106 ft (32 m)
Displacement: 44,971 long tons (45,693 t)
Speed: over 22 knots

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08): HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) - Wikipedia
Length: 284 m (932 ft)
Beam: 73 m (240 ft) overall
Displacement: 65,000 tonnes (64,000 long tons)
Speed: 25 knots

https://www.f35.com/assets/uploads/documents/RIAT-16-UK-Brief.pdf

HMS Queen Elizabeth, first F-35B landing, Flyco view

 

[John Fedup]

With the F-35A now priced at $90 million and continuing to fall, I am really looking forward to opposition attacks on junior year in the forthcoming 2019 elections with regard to his fighter replacement stance. There are numerous points to hurt him on, e.g. buying used classic Hornets, spending hundreds of millions trying keep the Hornet fleet flying until 2032, jeopardizing Canadian aerospace opportunities for the JSF program and his previous idiotic policy of banning the F-35 from contention in the fighter replacement program.

 

[ngatimozart]

With the F-35A now priced at $90 million and continuing to fall, I am really looking forward to opposition attacks on junior year in the forthcoming 2019 elections with regard to his fighter replacement stance. There are numerous points to hurt him on, e.g. buying used classic Hornets, spending hundreds of millions trying keep the Hornet fleet flying until 2032, jeopardizing Canadian aerospace opportunities for the JSF program and his previous idiotic policy of banning the F-35 from contention in the fighter replacement program.

John, this post belongs in the RCAF thread not here because it's Canadian centric.

 

[DaveS124]

Nothing to add to the video link except to say it's worth watching if only for the cinematography. Truly, even if you have no interest in the subject it's still worth watching.

Still waiting for that melting deck, as promised by so many.

 

[SpazSinbad]

At last the MoD PR plods have NOT used TOPfreakin'GUN music. Nice video. Here is the dusk ski jumper in slo mo, leaving the melting deck (slows it down) behindmost.

 

[SpazSinbad]

HMS Queen Elizabeth First F 35B SRVL 14 Oct 2018 [.png below shows a SIM screenshot at moment of descent for an SRVL shows: CMD DFP approach 64 KIAS closing speed 55 KIAS with deflections at 75/74 degrees fore/aft; both btm left overall power 80%]

 

[SpazSinbad]

F-35 pilot makes history with revolutionary way of landing jet on board HMS Queen Elizabeth

 

[Stampede]

F-35 pilot makes history with revolutionary way of landing jet on board HMS Queen Elizabeth

Thanks Spaz

Any guesstimate as to what distance the landing was achieved in on the flight deck.

Stampede

 

[SpazSinbad]

An F-35B Warton Sim Video Quote from four years ago said the SRVL landing length would be '200 feet' and the quote today says '175 feet':

14 Oct 2018 "...The aircraft touched down 755 feet back from the end of the carrier’s ski jump, the jet came to a complete standstill at the 580-foot mark. Using powerful brakes, the aircraft decelerates from about 40 knots to a standstill in around 175 feet...." [Aircraft starts about 1,900 feet from touchdown at 200 feet at about 60 KIAS perhaps minus WOD] Aviation history made on board HMS Queen Elizabeth

SRVL F-35B Demo CVF Sim + extras [04 Jul 2014]

 

[Stampede]

An F-35B Warton Sim Video Quote from four years ago said the SRVL landing length would be '200 feet' and the quote today says '175 feet':


SRVL F-35B Demo CVF Sim + extras [04 Jul 2014]

View attachment 46247

From CGI to the real thing.

US Marines and now the Royal Navy
Any idea as to when Italy gets to land an F35B at sea?

Stampede

 

[SpazSinbad]

I have no real current idea what Italians are up to next - not reading/understanding the Italian language is not helpful so have to rely on English websites mostly. I'll look though.... Here Is Italy’s First F-35B Lightning II Flying In Full Italian Navy Markings For The First Time Today Still early days for Italian F-35Bs with CAVOUR undergoing necessary modifications (another look up task). Italy Is Prepping Its Only Aircraft Carrier to Handle F-35B Stealth Fighters 2023 op date with CAVOUR ready for them before then.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, first SRVL, comparisons