Posted on 11/03/2014 6:49:41 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
The U.S. Navy conducted the first arrested landing of an F-35C Joint Strike Fighter carrier variant on November 3. Cmdr. Tony Wilson, a Navy test pilot, landed test aircraft CF-03 on the flight deck of the carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of San Diego after flying from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.
The first arrested landing came at the start of initial at-sea developmental testing of the F-35C, which is expected to last for two weeks. The carrier testing involves test aircraft CF-03 and CF-05, both fitted with a redesigned tail hook after problems with the initial design delayed carrier testing. This is the first of three at-sea test phases planned for the F-35C.
In May 2013, the Navy said it planned to declare initial operational capability of the carrier variant by February 2019. The F-35 Joint Program Office said the first arrested landing “reinforces Navy-industry partnership goals to deliver the operational aircraft to the fleet in 2018.”
“Today is a landmark event in the development of the F-35C,” said Wilson, who is attached to the Navy’s VX-23 Air Test and Evaluation Squadron based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. “It is the culmination of many years of hard work by a talented team of thousands. I'm very excited to see America’s newest aircraft on the flight deck of her oldest aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz.”
Excuse me stewardess, I speak “jive”.
CC
it may be four wire. there may be one to the right of the plane. iirc the carriers use a four-wire arrest system.
Hope he did not mess up the frosting............
j/k
I knew that did not look right but the spell checker couldn’t tell what I was thinking.
Oooh ahhhhh wow. That only took how long since the prototype flew?
People have retired on this project. Some must have retired in place.
I really hope the thing flies better than it looks.
Even the euro fighter is a better looking plane.
Arrested landing... damn CHP is everywhere.
jk
The VTOL feature use much more fuel. When not operationally necessary, VTOLs are operated somewhat more normally for take-offs and landings.
Carriers do use a 4 wire system.
The number 3 wire is the target.
A 3 wire trap is a good trap .. and normally indicates an approach on glide slope and speed
On further review of the photo it looks like he caught the 2 wire, a good but not great approach. My guess is he came in gentle and maybe a tad slow. First time on a new airframe... I’d say it’s forgivable.
Target gap between wires is less than 50 ft. at about 160 knots relative air speed, on a moving platform. Just another day at work for these guys...
Before I get hate mail I looked again.
Too high for the wire in the foreground which should be the 2 wire.
So then I went and found a video.
http://theaviationist.com/2014/11/03/f-35c-lands-on-uss-nimitz/
He absolutely nailed the 3 wire. Classic carrier trap.
Don’t want anyone thinking I’m casting aspersions on the pilot.
Way cool stuff.
In the latter 1980’s, I attended a seminar. The featured speaker was the officer ramrodding the F-35 project.
The point is made and confirmed. Thanks.
I loathe Lockheed for lobbying to kill the F-22 to make more profit on theF-35. They put profit way ahead of national security.
Particularly in a military thread.
"Looks"??
You are a little late to the party if you have never seen the Boeing candidate for the JSF..............
Boeing almost guaranteed failure just from looks, but it did have other shortcomings that Lockheed did not. Like blowtorching the carrier deck.
Never favored either or the concept of another multi role airplane.
Killing the F-14 without bringing an dedicated air superiority fighter online was criminal.
The F-35 may not be a Mig or Su killer, but it is better able to defend itself in a confused battlespace.
Thanks for your explanations, all.
Can anyone answer me this? What are the things that look like some kind of antennas mounted all around the upper levels of the island? I count seven of them in clear view in the above image.
Each one appears to include two yagis that are tilted toward each other, with an oval ground-plane behind them. They are aimed outward at various angles, but each appears to be fixed (that is, not on any kind of gimbal mount).
About damn time...
Some think the F-35 is a waste of money,but I’m glad to see they’re giving it a chance.It’s far more advanced they the more reciently proposed aircraft.
Avionics,electronics,more advanced...
By the way,Patuxant River , Md. is where this “Skinny old man” left the states to catch up with the USS Lake Champlain (CVA-39)back in Jan.1955.It was a Naval Auxillary Air Station back then.I was just 17 years old...
Poor bastard would never live it down if he had screwed the pooch!
Glad to help, but a hint where to look would help.
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