Posted on 02/23/2013 9:19:06 AM PST by NYFreeper
2/22/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- All F-35s have been grounded as a precaution after a routine engine inspection revealed a crack on an engine blade, Defense Department officials said Feb. 22 here.
(Excerpt) Read more at af.mil ...
I am willing to take congress to task for killing the alternate engine source given this history.
The funny thing is that I read it in a Australian aviation site
http://australianaviation.com.au/2013/03/f-35-grounding-lifted-2/
The listed cause of the turbine blade crack was :
"Prolonged exposure to high levels of heat and other operational stressors on this specific engine were determined to be the cause of the crack. No additional cracks were found during inspections of the remaining F-35 inventory.
Yes, I saw them flying today. Looks like this engine may have undergone some extreme tests at Edwards which caused the crack. Apparently this is not as serious as I first may have thought.
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