F-35 Lightning II (2) testing and production thread

air to air is going to be a blooming nightmare of epic proportions.

What do you mean? Also I hope you had permission to post them.

[edit on 7/6/2008 by C0bzz]

I didn't add the link and now I cannot find it... so i deleted them. Will post them again when i'm able to find the link.

The rearward view is less than nothing. How come a raptor can have great all round view and that stinking hog gets a pittance ?





[edit on 7-6-2008 by Dan Tanna]

reply to post by Dan Tanna


you seem to forget that air `battles` in the future will be fought `BVR` so the need for a built in gun has been eliminated...

reply to post by Harlequin


You can't be serious. Are you serious? Where and when have I heard this before as an excuse to eliminating the gun in an airframe. I hope that a gun is able to be fitted in some way. I know that there had been talk of a pod attached to the body for the marines (B version) and also for the C carrier version. Also it is claimed in the source that I found that the air-force(A) version will have an internal gun mounted in the airframe.

reply to post by Canada_EH


you should know me by now..... the very same words were uttered prior to vietnam , when the state of the art Sparrow was believed to be the new war winner in the air , so the F4 was designed to carry the sparrow (and sidewinder) and wouldn`t need a gun - well 1 war later and a 20mm gattling was pod mounted underneath

the F35A gerts a 4 barrelled gat , but the B and C versions do not get an internal gun , they have the option of an external pod mount

www.jsf.mil...

I think we are both making the exact same point.

"the 35 in all versions if expected to defend its self in a dogfight needs and internal gun."

Originally posted by Harlequin

you should know me by now..... the very same words were uttered prior to vietnam , when the state of the art Sparrow was believed to be the new war winner in the air , so the F4 was designed to carry the sparrow (and sidewinder) and wouldn`t need a gun - well 1 war later and a 20mm gattling was pod mounted underneath

The same path was taken by the RAF with the Eurofighter - a gun was no longer needed because of better BVR and EVR capabilities.

The gun was added back in after a case was made for last resort usage, 'warning shot' capability and close ground support through straffing.

The IAF , who have quite alot of A2A experience with the `teen` series use both AIM-7 and AIM-9 within 10 miles , usually less - when you have alot of aircraft in the air , the need to see what your shooting at becomes readily apparant.

“Green squares are target detections, the first contact,” Eide says. “Hit it a couple of times [with the AESA’s radar beam] and it turns orange. You’ll immediately know what it is and where it’s going.” But more importantly, “hovering on [or prolonging the observation of] a target produces specialized, pop-up target parameters” that were absent from the display for this flight. The tactical operator on the aircraft may use the information, but “data pulled off the radar [also] can be integrated with information from other mission system to help with faster, more accurate target recognition, for example.”

While Northrop Grumman officials will not discuss the specialized clues, specialists say they include engine vibrations, infrared signatures, the movement of manual radars inside radomes, identifiable reflections from specific radars and a large range of electronic emissions.

integrator.hanscom.af.mil...

May not be such a big problem as in the past?





reply to post by Dan Tanna


According to this:

www.globalsecurity.org...

The cockpit window is smaller on the STOVL F-35 compared to the CV and CTOL. The area above the lift fan also appears bulged on the STOVL too.


[edit on 8/6/2008 by C0bzz]

reply to post by C0bzz


well impressive if an aesa radar can tell what the aircraft type is from teh returned radio pulse....

reply to post by Harlequin


From what I understand, many radars can. However, I am not sure any take it to the same level as the F-35 which ( may ) combine "engine vibrations, infrared signatures, the movement of manual radars inside radomes, identifiable reflections from specific radars and a large range of electronic emissions."

[edit on 8/6/2008 by C0bzz]

www.flightglobal.com...

Lockheed Martin has confirmed that the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) demonstrator – named BF-1 - completed its first flight today shortly after 11 am in Fort Worth, Texas.

woot

at least teh programme can move forward (with more funding now) - glad to see this bad boy in the air


if you like this thread then flag it!

Awesome news! can't wait to see images video etc.* found 1!!!



Bit more from their postings on the events done during the test etc.

Tomlinson guided the jet to 15,000 feet and performed a series of handling tests, engine-power variations and subsystems checks before landing at 11:01 a.m. CDT.
"A great team effort led to a relaxed first flight, with the aircraft handling and performing just as we predicted based on STOVL simulator testing and flying the F-35A," Tomlinson said.

More news here and video link
www.star-telegram.com...
www.globalsecurity.org...

*Side note For all of you who enjoy these news and convo threads on the development of the 35 and its systems etc please Flag! If we don't its hard to give these long and research filled threads the place they need in the archives and use of the ATS boards so please FLAG!*

[edit on 11-6-2008 by Canada_EH]

[edit on 11-6-2008 by Canada_EH]

[edit on 11-6-2008 by Canada_EH]

She's looking good.

JSF Vertical Landing Could Be A Way Off
Posted by Bill Sweetman at 6/11/2008 3:17 PM CDT

Although it's an achievement to get the first short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) JSF, F-35 BF-1, in the air on the schedule agreed in August 2006, it will be late in the year before it even starts to do anything that the first airplane, AA-1, hasn't done.
Program officals speaking after BF-1's first flight today said that while the jet may perform some "up and away conversions" later this year, the build-down to jet-borne flight won't start until the first quarter of 2009. That will be followed by 20 sorties at Fort Worth in which the jet progressively slows down, leading to a slow landing. BF-1 will then be ferried to the Navy's flight-test center at Patuxent River for the final tests leading to a vertical landing.
bill sweetman blog

sounds like pax is where all the action will be

Here's some better pictures...:

www.fencecheck.com...

www.fencecheck.com...

www.fencecheck.com...

www.fencecheck.com...

www.fencecheck.com...


Whose this F-16 going to?

www.fencecheck.com...

reply to post by C0bzz


nice photos C0bzz
sweet

reply to post by Jezza


Don't thank me. Thank the people from fencecheck dot com!
www.fencecheck.com...
Entire credit goes to maskelyne, Carswell Dude, & honkhntr.

EDIT: LOL! That sounds dodge. Er, I am not affiliated with fence check, just wanted them to have credit not me.

[edit on 12/6/2008 by C0bzz]

video.nbc5i.com...

F-35B first flight vid.

I couldn't get the videos above to work so i hope you don't mind I added the link above as it runs on my pc..!

COBzz those pictures are awesome - its no beauty, and the rear view still makes me shudder but I guess the stealth features mean nothing should be creeping up behind it....

[edit on 12-6-2008 by Dan Tanna]

www.liveleak.com...

F35B hover pit testing - one thing that I had never even thought about was how to make a stealth nozzle for the exhaust...

Thats looking pretty mean !

Originally posted by Dan Tanna
F35B hover pit testing - one thing that I had never even thought about was how to make a stealth nozzle for the exhaust...

Definitely interesting 'turkey feathers'. Never really paid attention to them until that video.