Posted on 11/14/2008 4:37:55 PM PST by lewisglad
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter flew supersonic for the first time yesterday, achieving another milestone. The aircraft accelerated to Mach 1.05, or about 680 miles per hour.
The test validated the F-35 Lightning II's capability to operate beyond the speed of sound and was accomplished with a full internal load of weapons on the one-hour flight.
"The F-35 transitioned from subsonic to supersonic just as our engineers and our computer modeling had predicted," said Jon Beesley. "I continue to be impressed with the aircraft's power and strong acceleration, and I'm pleased that its precise handling qualities are retained in supersonic flight."
Beesley said it was also a significant achievement for a test aircraft to fly supersonic for the first time with the weight of a full internal load of weapons. The milestone was achieved on the 69th flight of F-35 aircraft AA-1. Beesley climbed to 30,000 feet and accelerated to Mach 1.05, or about 680 miles per hour, over a rural area in north Texas.
The F-35 accomplished four transitions through the sound barrier, spending a total of eight minutes in supersonic flight. The flight was preceded by a high-subsonic mission earlier in the day. Future testing will gradually expand the flight envelope out to the aircraft's top speed of Mach 1.6.
F-35 AA-1, a conventional takeoff and landing variant, and F-35 BF-1, a short takeoff/vertical landing variant, together have combined for 83 test flights.
The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation stealth fighter. Three F-35 variants derived from a common design, developed together and using the same sustainment infrastructure worldwide will replace at least 13 types of aircraft for 11 nations initially, making the Lightning II the most cost-effective fighter program in history.
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
HOT BIRD!
I want one. I wonder what rate I could get on the financing...
Are these birds even allowed to fly? Just think of the carbon footprint.
In today's market, you can expect 0% and a $2,500 dollar rebate.
And if you can tow, drive, or drag another plane in, another $2,000 dollars for the trade-in.
We're Lockheed Martin, and our prices are INSANE!!!!
OK, you beat me.
Multi-service platform.
The development of the JSF is being jointly funded by the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Israel and Singapore.
With OBomber and dems...dead bird...in two year with these jokers... we are back to SPADS.....
The other thing that I have noticed about them(just witness observation) is that you don’t hear them coming....at all...until they are way...way... past you.
I actually saw them yesterday over FW loaded with their dummy bombs taking off for parts unknown. Now I know where they were headed.
Cool! Thanks for posting this.
God Bless Our Military! (and the men/women who make their ‘machines’ too)
Air Force, Navy and Marines will fly this bird.
With OBomber and dems...dead bird...in two year with these jokers... we are back to SPADS.....
With OBomber and dems...dead bird...in two year with these jokers... we are back to SPADS.....
together have combined for 83 test flights.
For the math impaired, that means the STOVL version has flown 14 times.
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