F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread

[Brumby]

RIAT 2016 | F 35B Lightning II

 

[Air Force Brat]

A Norwegian article based on interviews with Norwegian F-35 pilots.

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Interesting quote at the end (awkward wording is from Google Translate):
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In general, it seems that the biggest critics of how the F-35 acts come from people who do not even have flown the aircraft,

- There is much in it. There is certainly no doubt that those who are critical of the F-35 is being heard and getting a lot of talk. And when we explain what this fighter is actually similarly capable of, we feel may not be that we get the same talk time. However, it is probably also some ulterior motives and part politics here too, says Tesli.

So as I have continued to remind, fifth generation aircraft are NOT CHEAP, but they work, and that in the end is what will matter. LockMart and US Gov are working to bring down the cost of each version, and have made startling progress toward that end. This is an aircraft which will continue to excel as its operating envelope is "opened up", its not surprising that these F-16 jockeys have fallen in love with the F-35, and I'm being very accurate in quoting them that the maneuverability is just as they have been led to believe.

In answer to your question Siege, only the A model will pull 9 Gs, the C is limited to 7.5, and the B limited to 7 Gs, but to answer your question, I would imagine the F-35 will be able to manage launching the AIM-9X in some very extreme angles and G loadings??? there will likely be a "window" of operation.

 

[Brumby]

In answer to your question Siege, only the A model will pull 9 Gs, the C is limited to 7.5, and the B limited to 7 Gs, but to answer your question, I would imagine the F-35 will be able to manage launching the AIM-9X in some very extreme angles and G loadings??? there will likely be a "window" of operation.

To add to your point, the A model will not be 9G capable and AIM-9X ready until it gets to 3F. I understand it is limited to 7G when it goes IOC. Additionally, the argument seems to suggest that AIM-9X will likely wing mount rather than internally carried.

 

[Jura The idiot]

3-star general compares F-35 to 'Jurassic Park' velociraptor

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in this post, only a part of the article is quoted, and since I read it, also the rest:

Davis has two sons who are also pilots in the Marine Corps, and he said his oldest is gearing up to fly the F-35.

“[My] youngest one would like to do it, too,” he added.

The Marines also have three F-35s headed to England to participate in the Riat and Farnborough air shows later this month.

The Marine Corps declared their variant of the aircraft — the F-35B — operational in July 2015. The Navy isn’t expected to reach their initial operational capability until 2018.

The Air Force is on course to reach initial operational capability later this year, sometime between August and December. But officials are still trying to hash out a number of problems with the craft, including an ejection seat that poses a lethal risk to pilots who weigh under 135 pounds, and ongoing glitches with the plane’s software programs.

 

[Air Force Brat]

To add to your point, the A model will not be 9G capable and AIM-9X ready until it gets to 3F. I understand it is limited to 7G when it goes IOC. Additionally, the argument seems to suggest that AIM-9X will likely wing mount rather than internally carried.

While they could no doubt put additional AIM-9Xs on a pylon, it will be carried internally! the question was could an F-35 safely launch an AIM-9X while it was stressed to 9Gs, and while it could, it is very unlikely that such a scenario would EVER occur in the real world?? F-35 adversaries will be "DEAD" at a very long range, and never know who, or what launched the missile!

I do very much understand the temporary flight envelope restrictions placed on the F-35A, and to be very honest, the 7G restriction is a precaution to protect the operator rather than the airframe, which is very strong. A 9G airplane would likely put some F-18 operators to sleep??? LOL

In practice, the only time an A model will go to 9Gs is during the very real and intense air-combat-maneuvering associated with training, and that will come much later, when the very steep learning curve has been absorbed. In A2A maneuvering, even the highly experienced are well into a "danger zone" where momentary disorientation or lose of consciousness could well result in your, or someone else's death, this is out of the ordinary, 7Gs will do anything an F-35 pilot wants to do, the B model will always be limited to 7Gs, the Navy C will be limited to 7.5Gs, so in practicality, its not a limitation at all, but make no mistake, the Air Force will open their bird up to the whole 9 yards!(pun intended)

 

[SouthernSky]

I'm not sure there has ever been another aircraft that has had so much talk / speculation / prediction / hope and outright crap spoken about it. Fast forward to 2026 please...

 

[siegecrossbow]

In answer to your question Siege, only the A model will pull 9 Gs, the C is limited to 7.5, and the B limited to 7 Gs, but to answer your question, I would imagine the F-35 will be able to manage launching the AIM-9X in some very extreme angles and G loadings??? there will likely be a "window" of operation.

That answers part of it. However, previously there was this rumor going around that F-35 can't launch AIM-9x from it's internal weaponsbay. If true, it would imply that the F-35 couldn't carry WVR weapons (aside from the gun) without compromising its stealth. If the F-35s could indeed carry the AIM-9s internally, that would mean Lockheed designed it with significant air-to-air combat capabilities in mind.

 

[Jura The idiot]

pulling this:

... RDT&E

F-35, 55 billions...

For 2457 A, B and C.

from
F-22 Raptor Thread

indeed,
"The current F-35 development program is projected to end in 2017, when Block 3F
developmental flight testing is complete, with a total development cost of $55 billion."
according to p. 5 of 19 in

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(I know it's not news, but related to
Thursday at 7:06 PM

I quickly scrambled this:

...

... as
"By the time initial operational testing is complete, currently planned for 2019, the program
will have procured 498 aircraft at a cost of $85.7 billion."
according to p. 15 of 47 in

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and I didn't realize the percentage of R&D cost would be that high in 2019 ...
85700/498 = 172
... so? so I'm just trying not to trick myself

 

[Jura The idiot]

That answers part of it. However, previously there was this rumor going around that F-35 can't launch AIM-9x from it's internal weaponsbay. If true, it would imply that the F-35 couldn't carry WVR weapons (aside from the gun) without compromising its stealth. If the F-35s could indeed carry the AIM-9s internally, that would mean Lockheed designed it with significant air-to-air combat capabilities in mind.

I now did google search with
aim-9+f-35+internal+bay
found in

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(dated Apr 14, 2016; part Weapons Integration):
"The F-22 provides for this with an ejection system for the missile, but the F-35 doesnt have this, and this may create problems qualifying the AIM-9X to fire from inside the bay."

and in

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"... will be introduced along with more frivolous munitions capabilities (including the 'lock on after launch' AIM-9X as well as the

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based Joint Strike Missile among other weapons and capability upgrades) as part of the Block 4 upgrade somewhere around 2022, hopefully. "

 

[Brumby]

That answers part of it. However, previously there was this rumor going around that F-35 can't launch AIM-9x from it's internal weaponsbay. If true, it would imply that the F-35 couldn't carry WVR weapons (aside from the gun) without compromising its stealth. If the F-35s could indeed carry the AIM-9s internally, that would mean Lockheed designed it with significant air-to-air combat capabilities in mind.

I think the internal bay is a Block 4 development.



The prevailing argument seems to be that the wing mounted AIM-9X will only marginally increases the RCS profile of the F-35A. I saw some discussions in the F16.net forum regarding this but can't remember the details.