F-35B/C - Naval Air Discussions (USN & USMC)
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the road runner
Active Member
For the British boys , the F-35 B has been doing test on the USS Wasp.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBI7uiDQA6Y"]British Pilot & Maintainer Test F-35B on USS Wasp - YouTube[/nomedia]
This program just keeps getting better. :smooth
A lot easier to fly than the harrier
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBI7uiDQA6Y"]British Pilot & Maintainer Test F-35B on USS Wasp - YouTube[/nomedia]
This program just keeps getting better. :smooth
A lot easier to fly than the harrier
RubiconNZ
The Wanderer
If you pause the clip at 0:35 seconds in, you can notice some very interesting visual effects being produced by the sunlight on the aircraft's paint.
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The USMC wastes little time exploring how to get the most utility from their new kit. The Osprey continues to surprise and confound it's detractors. The F-35B will be able to match the longer range and endurance of it's siblings. Maybe the Navy is swayed a bit more towards adopting Osprey for use on it's big deck carriers.
Bell-Boeing team tests Osprey's ability to refuel other aircraft - CombatAircraft.com
Bell-Boeing team tests Osprey's ability to refuel other aircraft
A series of tests in August and September has given aviation officials hope that the Osprey could be used to extend the range of other platforms, including helicopters and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter..
The first tests of the aerial refueling system under development by Bell and Boeing determined how turbulence from the Osprey’s rotors affect the hose and drogue that deliver fuel to other aircraft, as well as how rotary-wing and jet aircraft react in the Osprey’s rotor wash. A high-speed test for jet aircraft was conducted on Aug. 29 and a second, low-speed rotary-wing test on Sept. 23. Each type of aircraft requires a slightly different drogue, although it can be changed on the ground to meet the mission.
“The indications are that it’s really a steady drogue back there,” said Marine Brig. Gen. Matthew Glavy, assistant deputy commandant for Marine Corps aviation. “The Hornet pilots were really impressed with what they saw.”... The second test, with rotary-wing aircraft, also didn’t involve a fuel exchange. But it proved that the drogue is steady when the Osprey has its nacelles — the engine enclosures — at 60-degree angles, rather than in the horizontal airplane mode, said Chad Sparks, the V-22 advanced derivatives manager at Bell Boeing...
“So we have a 450-nautical-miles F-35, and if I have a capability to do tanking both en route to the objective and for recovery, I have just taken that distance and increased it significantly,” Glavy said.
The Osprey could carry as much as 12,000 extra pounds of fuel in up to three auxiliary fuel tanks that are already in use and standard for the Osprey, Sparks said.
Bell-Boeing team tests Osprey's ability to refuel other aircraft - CombatAircraft.com
Bell-Boeing team tests Osprey's ability to refuel other aircraft
A series of tests in August and September has given aviation officials hope that the Osprey could be used to extend the range of other platforms, including helicopters and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter..
The first tests of the aerial refueling system under development by Bell and Boeing determined how turbulence from the Osprey’s rotors affect the hose and drogue that deliver fuel to other aircraft, as well as how rotary-wing and jet aircraft react in the Osprey’s rotor wash. A high-speed test for jet aircraft was conducted on Aug. 29 and a second, low-speed rotary-wing test on Sept. 23. Each type of aircraft requires a slightly different drogue, although it can be changed on the ground to meet the mission.
“The indications are that it’s really a steady drogue back there,” said Marine Brig. Gen. Matthew Glavy, assistant deputy commandant for Marine Corps aviation. “The Hornet pilots were really impressed with what they saw.”... The second test, with rotary-wing aircraft, also didn’t involve a fuel exchange. But it proved that the drogue is steady when the Osprey has its nacelles — the engine enclosures — at 60-degree angles, rather than in the horizontal airplane mode, said Chad Sparks, the V-22 advanced derivatives manager at Bell Boeing...
“So we have a 450-nautical-miles F-35, and if I have a capability to do tanking both en route to the objective and for recovery, I have just taken that distance and increased it significantly,” Glavy said.
The Osprey could carry as much as 12,000 extra pounds of fuel in up to three auxiliary fuel tanks that are already in use and standard for the Osprey, Sparks said.
Air Force Brat
Member
Outstanding news Colay, Flight Global did report that two cracks were found on the F-35B, ground test article in 1 of the 4 wing carrythrough bulkheads, these are minor, and not unexpected as the ground test article has the equivalent of 9400 flight hours. The B model has lighter aluminum bulkheads, while the A and the C retained the Titanium bulkheads. This reported by Dave Mujamdar, 11 October 2013. This will NOT affect the flight test regimen, and the fix should be relatively simple on aircraft under construction.
The USN will reactivate VMF 101 the GrimReapers to be their first F-35C squadron.
richardparker07
Banned Member
The US Navy's F-35C Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF) carrier variant (CV) aircraft has successfully conducted the first in-flight refueling trials with a US Air Force's (USAF) KC-135 aircraft at an undisclosed location.
During the testing, the aircraft, also known as CF-1, successfully refuelled with a USAF's Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.
After completing this testing, the aircraft now joins the A and B models in proving that all three variants of the F-35 are capable of refuelling from a common tanker platform, despite their different methods.
The US Navy's first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft squadron, the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 completed the F-35C first flight test at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, US.
Scheduled to achieve initial operational capability in 2019, the F-35C catapult-assisted takeoff barrier arrested recovery (CATOBAR) aircraft features advanced stealth technology with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.
See, here for details.
During the testing, the aircraft, also known as CF-1, successfully refuelled with a USAF's Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.
After completing this testing, the aircraft now joins the A and B models in proving that all three variants of the F-35 are capable of refuelling from a common tanker platform, despite their different methods.
The US Navy's first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft squadron, the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 completed the F-35C first flight test at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, US.
Scheduled to achieve initial operational capability in 2019, the F-35C catapult-assisted takeoff barrier arrested recovery (CATOBAR) aircraft features advanced stealth technology with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.
See, here for details.
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Dave Majumdar of USNI has a write-up on the role of the F-35C for the US Navy that is worth looking at, here.
Under the US Navy’s forthcoming Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) network, targets discovered by F-35Cs would be passed back to a Northrop Grumman E-2D to be shared with the rest of the carrier strike group. F-35Cs flying deep inside enemy territory would also play a key role in providing terminal guidance for long-range stand-off weapons launched by other platforms.
However, the F-35C will need some data-link modifications, which are expected for the jet’s Block IV configuration. In order to extend the F-35C’s range, the US Navy also hopes to refuel the stealthy new fighter from the service’s future Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft.
Under the US Navy’s forthcoming Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) network, targets discovered by F-35Cs would be passed back to a Northrop Grumman E-2D to be shared with the rest of the carrier strike group. F-35Cs flying deep inside enemy territory would also play a key role in providing terminal guidance for long-range stand-off weapons launched by other platforms.
However, the F-35C will need some data-link modifications, which are expected for the jet’s Block IV configuration. In order to extend the F-35C’s range, the US Navy also hopes to refuel the stealthy new fighter from the service’s future Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft.
Air Force Brat
Member
Thanks OPSSG, Dave had an article in USNI that he had published on Dec 23, 13 on qualing the production tailhook, it had been testing at Patuxant, and was being moved to Lakehurst prior to carrier quals aboard the Nimitz during early 2014. It will be very exciting to see the first pics of the C coming aboard and being launched from the Nimitz. brat
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John Fedup
The Bunker Group
A report appears at Aviation News | Aviation Industry & Airline Statistics | flightglobal.com that the USN is requesting funding for 22 additional EA-18G Growlers on the 2015 budget. Is this a backdoor way of getting more Superhornets? Is this a sign of the USN's concerns with the F-35C progress?
Navy just wants to bulk up it's EW capabilities above the minimum level they are currently at. It's also,a tribute to Boeing's lobbying prowess but it's not a given that Congress will fund the request.
As for the F-35C, IOC is targeted for 2018 with a threshold of 2019 so Navy can afford to wait. I expect Navy to place substantial orders in the next couple of years.
Air Force Brat
Member
All very true, and many of us hope the F-18 line at Boeing will continue to remain in production. The Growler will bring a very robust integration with the F-35, and allow the fourth gens to "piggy-back" off the fifth gens and provide a much more comprehensive situational awareness to the war-fighters, so all in all a very good "bang for the buck".
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Defense-aerospace.com has an article about the F-35C's sink rate being dropped from 26fps to 21fps, a 20 % change. Although this does not concern international customers (no "C" export orders) is this a concern? Anyone know the maximum sink rate for the Superhornet?
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
I think there will be continued pressure to fund more Growlers just to keep the line going as Boeing is still hoping Canada might opt for SH/Growlers instead of F-35As but a decision might not be forthcoming fast enough for Boeing. I am guessing no SH or F-35 commitment until late 2016 from Canada.
A reduced rate of sink increases the life of the undercarriage i'd imagine because the system is having to control a slower impact on landing.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
I guess the issue is both a combination of impact and weight. Impact is a vector, forward landing speed and vertical drop. I saw a list of approach landing speeds for various carrier jets and the F-35 was in the range of the Superhornet but it is heavier I believe. What amazed me was the Tomcat's much lower approach speed, that expensive swing wing was a big advantage at the low end as well.
I guess the endurance of the C's undercarriage will something to be determined.
F-35 isnt a whole lot heavier than SH. With th F35 i would imagine its systems would make for a perfect landing much more likely and doable.
The article even states that it was successfully tested at 26 fps in 2010. Its how people are reading into this (ie as a negative). Its not.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
You are correct, the weight difference is indeed minimal, about a ton. I have seen one post claiming the SH was 5 tons lighter. Other posts claim this reduced sink rate is due to modifications to get the tail hook issue resolved. Again, as Canada is buying the "A" version, this is not an issue for us. Still, knowing the maximum sink rate for the SH would be interesting to know as the forward approach speed for both is almost equal. As for negative reading into the F-35, it seems to be an international sport, sadly.
The F-35C looks to be all set for landing trials aboard a carrier sometime in October. Detractors were quick to seize on early failed arrestment tests blaming the short hook arm and predicting the necessity for a major redesign. Not a peep from them this time,around. It should be noted that the X-47B has a similarly short hook arm but it traps near flawlessly
U.S. Deputy Program Manager Outlines F-35 Fixes | Aviation International News
...The initially deficient tail hook of the F-35C carrier variant has been redesigned and proven at the Navy’s carrier suitability test site in Lakehurst, N.J., without requiring structural changes to the airframe, Mahr said. The redesigned tail hook catches an arresting wire “comparable to that of legacy airplanes, including the F-18,” he said. “Nobody catches the wire every time, but we’re in the high 90-percent [range]. The hook works.” The Navy plans to fly an F-35C for the first time to an aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, this fall...
U.S. Deputy Program Manager Outlines F-35 Fixes | Aviation International News
...The initially deficient tail hook of the F-35C carrier variant has been redesigned and proven at the Navy’s carrier suitability test site in Lakehurst, N.J., without requiring structural changes to the airframe, Mahr said. The redesigned tail hook catches an arresting wire “comparable to that of legacy airplanes, including the F-18,” he said. “Nobody catches the wire every time, but we’re in the high 90-percent [range]. The hook works.” The Navy plans to fly an F-35C for the first time to an aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, this fall...
Air Force Brat
Member
Yes, and I can't wait to see them bringing the C aboard the Nimitz, it will be more F-35 candy, those vids will be coming soon, and I predict the C will perform famously, as the FCS is gonna make that a piece of cake compared to legacy platforms...should practically land itself ?????
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Would here have been any merit in having a CATOBAR F-35 that could accept either the conventional F135 engine or the lift-fan version thus allowing more flexibility?