photos: F-35 JPO
Posted on 10/03/2011 7:42:28 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
F-35B Makes First Vertical Carrier Landing At Sea
By Colin Clark
Published: October 3, 2011
The big news today: the Marines F-35B made a vertical landing on the deck of the USS Wasp, a small Marine aircraft carrier. Ship trials will demonstrate how the stealth materials on the plane hold up to harsh conditions at sea, as well as show just how hot and noisy the aircraft is when making landings on a carrier. There have been concerns that the enormous thrust and heat from the 43,000 pounds of thrust the engine can produce might soften carrier decks and require extra measures to cope with the stresses. So far, program officials say they have seen no evidence of that during the aircraft's land-based tests.
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We know next to nothing about the test results beyond what is contained in the following release from the Joint Strike fighter program office:
Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Fred Schenk landed BF-2 at 3:12 pm. "It was exactly like we predicted," said Schenk. "But that's because of all the hard work and extensive preparation done by the Wasp and JSF team."
The first vertical landing is part of the initial ship trials for the F-35B which started Monday and is expected to last two-weeks. The tests are scheduled to collect data on the aircraft's ability to perform short take-offs and vertical landings on a ship at sea, as well as determine how the aircraft integrates with the ship's landing systems, and deck and hangar operations.
"This test period, the first of three
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photos: F-35 JPO
Super calm water, but still a magnificent feat.
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We REALLLLLLY needed this...!!!!
Please oh please keep going like this..!
Does this mean it can now take off vertically?
I saw a documentary and while they could land vertically, it couldn’t take off but I think it was only the prototype of the lifting fan version.
It’s amazing how realistic these computer games have become.
On the deck softening, maybe they can use some leftover space shuttle tiles or capsule re-entry shield material (which might be “consumable”, I think it is ablative)?
fuel burn prolly makes it prohibitive unless an emergency
This thread is worthless without kick ass video
Dangit, you know how long it takes to HTML-up the subscript? Now my video request falls less than a minute after your video link. Dangit, dangit, dangit.
LOL
It cannot take off vertically with any meaningful combat load. However, since it does have the ability to abort a vertical landing if necessary, it can perform a vertical takeoff if its weight is low enough.
In Before The "This Thread Is Worthless Without Kick Ass Video
Hasn’t the USS Wasp been around forever?
This thread is hilarious with the acronym and subscript meme
The f-35 is a STOVL aircraft. Short Take Off Vertical Land as opposed to the Harrier “Jump Jet” which is a VTOL. Vertical Take Off & Land.....a la Arnie Swartzenegger’s movie “TRUE LIES.”
“There have been concerns that the enormous thrust and heat from the 43,000 pounds of thrust the engine can produce might soften carrier decks”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Is that deck made of asphalt?
It even has self-sideways parking for tight carrier slots.
Too cool for words!
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