Lockheed Martin F-35B Begins In-Flight STOVL Operations

Space War ^ | 01/08/2008 | SPX via Space War

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter engaged its STOVL propulsion system in flight for the first time today. The successful test is the first in a series of planned STOVL-mode flights that will include short takeoffs, hovers and vertical landings. "The joint F-35 industry and government team has already shown during extended ground tests that the STOVL propulsion system performs well, and thousands of hours of component testing has validated its durability. Now we are seeing early proof that the system operates in flight as our team predicted," said Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager.

The aircraft is powered by a single Pratt and Whitney F135 engine driving a Rolls-Royce LiftFan. The system, which includes a Rolls-Royce 3-bearing swivel duct that vectors engine thrust and under-wing roll ducts that provide lateral stability, produces more than 41,000 pounds of vertical thrust. The F135 is the most powerful engine ever flown in a fighter aircraft.

[Guyin4Os]

so... would the center of the play be the STOVL CORE?

[Guyin4Os]

so... would the center of the PLANE be the STOVL CORE?

[Vroomfondel]

ping

[Yo-Yo]

so... would the center of the PLANE be the STOVL CORE?

If by the center of the plane you mean the center of gravity, it is between the front lift fan and the rear exhaust nozzle.

In vertical mode, with the lift fan clutch engaged, the engine exhaust produces 18,000 lbs of thrust, the lift fan produces 20,000 lbs, and the two roll posts produce almost 2,000 lbs each. So the center of gravity will also be the center of lift from all of those sources, which would be behind the forward lift fan.

[A.A. Cunningham]

F-35 Lead STOVL Pilot Graham Tomlinson of BAE Systems took off at 1:53 p.m. EST, climbed to 5,000 feet and engaged the shaft-driven LiftFan propulsion system at 210 knots (288 mph), then slowed to 180 knots (207 mph) with the system engaged before accelerating to 210 knots and converting back to conventional-flight mode. The STOVL propulsion system was engaged for a total of 14 minutes during the flight. Tomlinson landed at 2:41 p.m. EST.

The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter engaged its STOVL propulsion system in flight for the first time today.

[jetson]

bing

[mad_as_he$$]

Soon to be known as the “Nugget Killer”.

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/desertdog7788/?action=view&current=f-35.flv

[Guyin4Os]

sorry ... it was a star trek joke ... stov’l kor is where klingons go when they die ... if they were good warriors

[magslinger]

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[Yo-Yo]

sorry ... it was a star trek joke ... stov’l kor is where klingons go when they die ... if they were good warriors

Sorry, missed that pun entirely. I must have a smooth forehead.

[Eye of Unk]

I was expecting a lot of comments here that people thought it was already operational because it was in the latest Diehard movie.