Posted on 07/13/2010 10:01:28 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
A spot-on rotation after an 8s take-off roll should have excited - or at least relaxed - the high-ranking programme officials lining the runway at the US Navy's Patuxent River NAS in Maryland on 17 March.
BAE Systems test pilot Graham Tomlinson had just proved that the Lockheed Martin F-35B can indeed take off from amphibious carriers and small runways. Checking-off the test point also would clear the way for Lockheed to stage the F-35B's first vertical landing the next day.
Coming six weeks after a major restructuring caused by a $100 billion increase in cost projections, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme undoubtedly felt pressure to score a landmark success in the long-delayed flight-test programme.
At the moment of Tomlinson's rotation to flight, however, the mood on the flightline was more like anxiety. For a large, black object was observed blasting from the tail of the aircraft down the runway in the opposite direction just as test aircraft BF-1's nose tilted skyward.
(Excerpt) Read more at flightglobal.com ...
Ping
A HUGE credit of thanks goes to szonian for bringing this article to my attention.
Thanks!!!
If you bring an article to my attention you will always get the credit.
Thanks. Very important graphic to compare planes!
:)
Cool video of vertical take off and landings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ9MiWXRBQE&feature=player_embedded
Cool video of vertical take off and landings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ9MiWXRBQE&feature=player_embedded
oops. Now how did I post that twice? darn.
Mustang
Cool Mustang shot!...I can hear the Merlin’s roar now...:o)
Glad you liked it. That shot is only about a week old.
It was shot in England.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2552147/posts
Amazing how similar are the outlines of the F-22 and F-35. Never realized that before.
You’re welcome and thanks, but no credit is required. Just thought it was a good piece with some good info and all...
It’s been happening to a lot of folks lately, I even noticed a Moderator get hooked once.
I hear it has something to do with some server changes FR did not too long ago.
Ping
Dayum! Brass balls if he’s mowing the lawn , too.
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