Lockheed-Martin's VTOL Carrier Version of the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35C) Takes Flight

Reaganite Republican ^ | December 04, 2011 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

First time in the air now for the Navy's carrier version of the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II, the F-35C- like all variants a descendant of the F-35X JSF (Joint Strike Fighter).

While the F-35 program is not without it's problems, Navy test pilot Lt. Chris Tabert successfully flew the F-35C test aircraft -which features Harrier-type VTOL capabilities via advanced thrust-vectoring- on Nov. 18, the first launch of the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter from the Navy's new electromagnetic aircraft launch system, 'set to install on future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)'... nice piece of kit, this thing:

[YouTube]

Video/specs/more at Reaganite Republican

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h/t Flopping Aces   Lockheed Martin   Wikipedia   DefenseIndustryDaily   JSF.milF-35 Navy fighter  F-35C, xxx Joint Strike Fighter

[The Free Engineer]

F-35C is not VTOL. The carrier variant has stronger gear, bigger wings with folding tips and a tail hook.

F-35B is S/VTOL variant for the Marines.

[magslinger]

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