Posted on 02/23/2012 8:28:10 PM PST by A.A. Cunningham
F-35 Lightning II Program
Public Affairs Release – 2012 02 23
FIRST F-35B FLIGHT WITH EXTERNAL WEAPONS
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Over an Atlantic test range, Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin flies F-35B test aircraft BF-2 with external weapons pylons for the first time Feb. 22. The test measured flying qualities with external pylons, inert AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and centerline 25 mm gun pod. Significant weapons testing for the F-35B and F-35C variants is scheduled for 2012, including fit checks, captive carriage, pit drop and aerial drop tests.
The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter for the U.S. Marine Corps, capable of short take-offs and vertical landings for use on amphibious ships or expeditionary airfields to provide air power to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River prior to delivery to the fleet.
Wow what good news.
Stelthy Fighter that can’t do A>A combat and costs 3X it’s combat comp (3.5 next month), now featuring stelth be gone pasties.
Upcomming (visionary) development for this incredible piece of work is will allow Carl Vinson to land and take off from it.
Raben
You lack the grey matter necessary to qualify as obtuse.
ping. the previous story was at Edwards, probably (although not clear from the coverage) of the AF variant.
Wouldn’t external weapons (and mounting points) destroy the stealth characteristics of the aircraft?
AAC, “You lack the grey matter necessary to qualify as obtuse.”
As a child, R often felt humiliated and reviled owing to a chronic inability to obtu @, or even close to, grade level.
It has only come to pass thru the gifts of 0 and the wonders of green, that grey matter deficiency disorder (GMDD) became recognized and coveted (kinda like the discovery of bat guano). Anyhow, thanks for the kind words and promo.
Rab
Sometimes you don’t need stealth. Those external pylons sure do look big, does that thing generate a lot of lift?
Click on pic for past Navair pings. Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist. The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation. This is a medium to low volume pinglist.
Maryland PING!
Scopedope: (in ragheadese) Sir, we have a sparrow on the radar.
Leader: (Also in ragheadese) Fool! Do not worry about birds showing on radar!
Scopedope: But sir, this sparrow is carrying sidewinders.
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