USMC F-35B first flight at Eglin Air Force Base. On the 100th anniversary of Marine Corps Aviation. May 22, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in F-35.Tags: Eglin Air Force Base, F-35B, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, STOVL, United States Marine Corps, VMFAT-501
add a comment
Eglin Air Force Base, that has become famous for the improvised hangar foam party that almost submerged an F-15, an F-16 and an A-10, saw the first flight of an F-35B, belonging to the USMC, on May 22, 2012, on the 100th anniversary of Marine Corps Aviation.
The STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) version of the Joint Strike Fighter, one of the three delivered to the VMFAT-501 in January, performed a local conventional flight training sortie that kicked off the process of gradually expanding the envelope to more complex aerial training, including short take offs and vertical landings.
Although reporting to 2nd MAW, headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., the VMFAT-501 is hosted on the 33rf FW flight line, where, since 2009, pilots and mechanics of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps share capabilities at the local F-35 Academic Training Center, the nation’s JSF school.
Selected by the UK’s RAF and Italy Air Force and Navy, the F-35B will replace the F/A-18 Hornet, EA-6B Prowler and AV-8B Harrier within the US Marine Corps.
According to the current plans, a fully-fielded fleet of F-35Bs and F-35Cs will equip 22 capital ships (11 flattops and 11 amphibious assault).
Image credit: Neal Chapman / Lockheed Martin
Related articles
- UK to reverse decision on F-35 version. Two aircraft carriers and 72 retired Harriers later. (theaviationist.com)
- F-35 progress report. The year so far in review. (theaviationist.com)
- Curious photo: This is not a Hollywood film set but the U.S. Marine Corps F-18 Hornet simulator (theaviationist.com)
- Foam party! Hangar fire suppression system submerges F-15, F-16 and A-10 in foam at Eglin Air Force Base (theaviationist.com)
- Sea Harrier, the forgotten hero that won the war in the Falklands. To be replaced by the F-35B. (theaviationist.com)
- First image of F-35B with an AIM-120C5 missile in the weapon bay (theaviationist.com)
- Photo: F-35B with weapons bay doors open (theaviationist.com)
You won’t believe it: UK considered bringing back one aircraft carrier and the Harrier for Libya May 2, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in Military Aviation.Tags: aircraft carrier, Royal Air Force, Harrier, Royal Navy, Strategic Defence and Security Review, Libya, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, David Cameron, Harrier Jump Jet
add a comment
Can you remember the famous possible, reportedly imminent, UK’s U-turn on the F-35 version that we already discussed here?
It looks like another resounding decision could have been reversed during last year’s Libya operations, when London considered bringing back to operative service the aircraft carriers and Harrier “jump jets” axed by the much criticised Strategic Defense and Spending Review.
Such admission suggests the David Cameron Cabinet has not clear ideas about the future of the UK military.
In November 2011, 72 former RAF’s Harrier jets were sold to the USMC for a mere 180 million USD.
They will not be used for spare parts: the Marines plan to equip at least two squadrons with some of the UK’s Harrier GR9 models with plenty of upgrades and lot of experience in Afghanistan…..
Image credit: Jez B/Flickr
Related articles
Photo: F-35A completes first aerial refueling with inert AIM-9X, JDAM and AMRAAM weapons. April 24, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in F-35.Tags: AIM-9 Sidewinder, Edwards Air Force Base, Joint Direct Attack Munition, Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, United States Airforce
1 comment so far
On Saturday, Apr. 21, an F-35A Lightning II CTOL (conventional takeoff and landing aircraft) operating from Edwards AFB, achieved the first in-flight refueling mission from an Air Force’s KC-10 while configured with external weapons.
Piloted by U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. George Schwartz, the test aircraft, known as AF-4, flew with two external inert AIM-9X weapons and four external stores. Even if they are not visible in the picture, internally, the jet was carrying two Joint Direct Attack Munitions and two Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles.
During the 2-hour mission tested the flying qualities of the aircraft while maneuvering with external weapons. Weapons separation testing will begin later this year.
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
Related articles
- Photo: Lockheed Martin F-35′s first mission with external weapons (theaviationist.com)
- First image of F-35B with an AIM-120C5 missile in the weapon bay (theaviationist.com)
- Photo: F-35 completes first night air-to-air refueling (theaviationist.com)
- Breaking: never seen before F-35′s centerline gun pod unveiled (theaviationist.com)
- Video: F-35A night refueling (theaviationist.com)
- It’s better to replenish the stock before going to war with Iran (or Syria). U.S Air Force Orders 5,000 JDAM bomb kits. (theaviationist.com)
- Photo: F-35B with weapons bay doors open (theaviationist.com)
- F-35 progress report. The year so far in review. (theaviationist.com)
Photo: U.S. Navy Carrier Variant F-35C’s first formation flight April 20, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in F-35.Tags: F-35C, Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy
1 comment so far
On Apr. 18, two F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft launched together from Naval Air Station Patuxent River and conducted formation flying for more than one hour.
The mission flown by the two aircraft, known as CF-1 and CF-2, and piloted by Navy Cdr. Eric Buus and Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt Taylor, respectively, aimed to test flying qualities of the aircraft while taking off, landing and flying in formation.
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
Related articles
- UK to reverse decision on F-35 version. Two aircraft carriers and 72 retired Harriers later. (theaviationist.com)
- Non-US F-35 takes to the skies: first UK’s Joint Strike Fighter inaugural flight (with some nice low-visibility markings) (theaviationist.com)
- F-35 progress report. The year so far in review. (theaviationist.com)
- F-35B Finally on track? (theaviationist.com)
- “The F-35 remains essential to the future of air superiority” Panetta says. And Lockheed Martin reassures: “we will solve all JSF problems.” (theaviationist.com)
UK to reverse decision on F-35 version. Two aircraft carriers and 72 retired Harriers later. April 18, 2012
Posted by Richard Clements in Aircraft Carriers, F-35.Tags: Lockheed Martin, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, STOVL, F-35B, F-35C, Strategic Defence and Security Review, HMS Ark Royal, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, David Cameron, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
3 comments
After the first of the UK’s F-35s took to the air on Apr. 13, it would seem that British Prime Minister David Cameron has been persuaded into going back with the STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) version and reverse his earlier decision to reverse order from the F-35B the F-35C CV (Carrier Variant).
The British newspaper The Daily Mail has reported that Cameron has taken on board military advice and gone with the B version that was controversially axed in 2010 as the British government, following a Strategic Defence and Security Review, negotiated a deal to get the JSF that will equip the American flattops instead of that destined for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Cameron made the U-turn after hearing that the changes needed by the two carriers would amount to £1.8 billion and delay the whole project by 7 years.
The Daily Mail quoted a Downing street official as saying: “The major problem with the conventional aircraft [the CV variant] is that we would be without carrier capability for far too long”.
Obviously, such uncertainity gives us more ammunition to criticise the initial decision to scrap the two small aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal and HMS Invincible (leaving the UK with no maritime strike capability for a decade or more), the subsequent retirement of the Harrier “Jump Jet” and last year’s sale of the RAF’s 72 Harrier jets to the USMC for a mere 180 million USD.
The (final?) decision is expected to be signed off officially within the next few weeks.
In the meanwhile Lockheed Martin has released a video of the UK’s F-35B inaugural flight.
The one in the video should be UK future’s F-35 version. Until next U-turn on future Britain’s aircraft carrier and naval aviation.
Richard Clements for TheAviationist.com
Related articles
Non-US F-35 takes to the skies: first UK’s Joint Strike Fighter inaugural flight (with some nice low-visibility markings) April 16, 2012
Posted by Richard Clements in F-35.Tags: Lockheed Martin, Joint Strike Fighter, Royal Air Force, Lockheed, Royal Navy, STOVL, F-35 Lightning II, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
3 comments
Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility has been deafened by the first non-U.S customers F-35 taking to the skies for the first time.
BK1, the UK’s first of three development aircraft which rolled off the production line during November 2011 and will fly with the RAF serial ZM135, made its inaugural test flight on Apr. 13 with Lockheed’s pilot Bill Gigliotti at the controls.
The second non-U.S F-35 destined for The Netherlands, has just rolled off the line and will be second in line to take to the air.
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
The “B” model flight announces a milestone in the F-35 story, but also the beginning of the UK’s involvement which is proving to be a story in itself.
Originally, the first three test planes for the UK had to be “B” ones in the STOVL (short take off vertical landing) version, but in 2010 as consequence of the Defence Spending Review, decided to go with the C model with the arrestor hook. Following the decision, the UK worked out a deal with the US to swap BK3 (the third plane) to a C model (CK-1).
However after looking more closely at how much the change to the C model (that in the meanwhile experienced some problems with its arrestor hook to such an extent a new one had to be re-designed) will cost over the lifetime of the carriers the UK is currently building, the Ministry of Defense is thinking about reverting to the B model once again.
The two Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers (HMS Queen Elizabeth & HMS Prince of Wales) were originally designed with the STOVL version of the F-35 in mind, therefore were not designed with a cat and trap launch and recovery system similar to the one used by the American flattops. Hence, the cost of refitting one of the two carriers, only slightly smaller than a Nimitz class supercarrier, with a brand new catapult system, could be greater than anticipated.
Noteworthy, the new British JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) wears interesting low visibility national markings (roundel and tail flash). By the way, it’s not going to be easy to distinguish the UK’s roundel from that of Italy.
Written with The Aviationist’s Editor David Cenciotti
Image credit: Lockheed Martin via Combat Aircraft FB page
Related articles
- F-35B Finally on track? (theaviationist.com)
- F-35 progress report. The year so far in review. (theaviationist.com)
- “The F-35 remains essential to the future of air superiority” Panetta says. And Lockheed Martin reassures: “we will solve all JSF problems.” (theaviationist.com)
- Photo: F-35B with weapons bay doors open (theaviationist.com)
- First image of F-35B with an AIM-120C5 missile in the weapon bay (theaviationist.com)
[Updated] This could be the look of the Dutch F-35 (including RNlAF Solo Display JSF) April 8, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in F-35.Tags: Eglin Air Force Base, Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, RNlAF, Royal Netherlands Air Force
3 comments
Update Apr. 9, 2012 18.25 GMT
On Apr 1, 2012, the first F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing) for The Netherlands rolled out of the F-35 production facility.
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
Known as AN-1, the aircraft that has just left the Fort Worth final assembly line, will be assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida, for training and operational tests of pilots and maintainers. The Dutch Parliament agreed to procure a second test F-35 to be used in the IOT&E (Initial Operational Test and Evaluation) phase.
Under the current plan, The Netherlands should eventually procure 85 F-35s to replace about 65 RNlAF F-16MLUs.
I’ve asked once again Al Clark to draw a digital mock-up of how the F-35 in Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNlAF) colors could look like based on the current color scheme of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht F-16s.
Based on the above Al Clark’s rendering Jeroen van Veenendaal has drawn the F-35 of the RNlAF Solo Display team.
Related articles
- F-35 progress report. The year so far in review. (theaviationist.com)
- Video: F-35A night refueling (theaviationist.com)
- Photo: F-35B with weapons bay doors open (theaviationist.com)
- Breaking: never seen before F-35′s centerline gun pod unveiled (theaviationist.com)
- Photo: Lockheed Martin F-35′s first mission with external weapons (theaviationist.com)
- Italy has decided: F-35s to be cut by more than 30 percent. (theaviationist.com)
Like this:
Video: F-35A night refueling April 7, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in F-35.Tags: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Joint Strike Fighter, JSF, Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender, United States Airforce
add a comment
Just released by Lockheed Martin, a short but interesting video showing the F-35 performing night refueling from both a U.S. Air Force KC-135 and KC-10.
Related articles
- Photo: F-35 completes first night air-to-air refueling (theaviationist.com)
- KC-130J: a tactical gas station in the sky. Serving fighters, bombers, choppers. And maybe even F-35s sometime in the future. (theaviationist.com)
- The F-35 Looks Like a Stealth Spaceship at Night [Image Cache] (gizmodo.com)
- First image of F-35B with an AIM-120C5 missile in the weapon bay (theaviationist.com)
[Updated] New image of F-35B with an AIM-120C5 missile in the weapon bay March 28, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in F-35.Tags: AIM-120 AMRAAM, Air-to-ground weaponry, Joint Direct Attack Munition, Joint Strike Fighter, Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
5 comments
Update Mar. 29, 2012 20.30 GMT
Mar. 22, 2012 not only marked the first night air-to-air refueling: although not widely advertised, on the same day, the F-35B BF-4, during its 100th flight, piloted by RAF Sqdn. Ldr. Jim Schofield, flew with the open weapon bay door for an environmental testing with an (inert) AIM-120C5.
After showing some images of air-to-ground weapons inside the weapon bay, this is the second time a photograph shows an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) carried by the 5th generation JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) in the Short Take Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.
The F-35 will be able to carry one AIM-120D (AIM-120C8), an improved version of the BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile, and a 1,000-lb JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) or LGB in each weapon bay or two AIM-120Ds for each weapon bay (using a trapeze plus ejector to lower the inner missile into the airstream before launch).
Image credit: Andy Wolfe via Lockheed Martin
Related articles
- Photo: Lockheed Martin F-35′s first mission with external weapons (theaviationist.com)
- Photo: F-35B with weapons bay doors open (theaviationist.com)
- Breaking: never seen before F-35′s centerline gun pod unveiled (theaviationist.com)
- RAF’s weapon of choice in Libya to be upgraded as export opportunities emerge (theaviationist.com)
- F-35 progress report. The year so far in review. (theaviationist.com)
Like this:
Photo: F-35 completes first night air-to-air refueling March 26, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in F-35.Tags: Aerial refueling, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender, U.S. Air Force, United States Air Force
2 comments
On Mar. 22, 2012, the F-35 completed the first night air-to-air refueling during a test mission from Edwards AFB, California.
Piloted by U.S. Air Force pilot Lt. Col. Peter Vitt, AF-4, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant, met with an Air Force KC-135 tanker and successfully received fuel through the Stratotanker flying boom.
Thanks to the gas received through the JSF’s receptacle, Vitt’s sortie lasted more than three hours.
After qualifying with the KC-135, the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards AFB will also conduct night refueling tests with the KC-10.
Image credit: Lockheed Martin photo by Matthew Short
Related articles
- “Yes we can”: KC-767 refueling another KC-767 (theaviationist.com)
- Israeli F-15I to be equipped with removable probe for buddy air-to-air refueling in case of attack on Iran? (theaviationist.com)
- KC-767 boom operator’s stereoscopic vision goggles: introducing the adveniristic Remote Vision System (theaviationist.com)
- Belgian Air Force F-16s refueling from U.S. tanker over Afghanistan. With boom operator’s audio (and some wasted fuel…) (theaviationist.com)
- If you thought an aerial tanker’s “flying boom” was rigid, you better watch this video (theaviationist.com)
