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

[Equation]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

I have a question Popeye, are LHD deck crew and aircraft carrier deck crew interchangeable?

 

[Jeff Head]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

F-35B Lightning II is at sea aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1). No PS, no speculation, just the real deal..

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(U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael T. Forbes II/Released)

Yep...no PS and no BS.

And, if you notice, some of those pics are of active, in service aircraft involved in these exercises. Not prototypes and not pure test aircraft.

I am looking forward to seeing the UK, Italy, and Spain doing the same as they receive theirs in the future...and perhaps some day Japan and Australia too.

Great stuff.

I have a question Popeye, are LHD deck crew and aircraft carrier deck crew interchangeable?

Well, I will not speak for popeye by any means, but the personnel could probably very quickly pick up the cross deck handling for the same specialty that they have (ie. fuel, weapons, aircraft movement, etc.).

However, since they do deal with different systems on the LHD/A vs. a Carrier (or vice-versa), and they do deal with different aircraft, they would have to get trained and qualified in those specialties on those vessels with those aircraft before they could go out an arm up an aircraft when moving from one to the other.

 

[bd popeye]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

I have a question Popeye, are LHD deck crew and aircraft carrier deck crew interchangeable?

Sure. They are Aviation Boatswain mates. I bet if you talked to the senior personnel you would find shipmates that have served on CV/CVNs.

By the way Jeff is 100% correct.

 

[bd popeye]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

What is an Aviation Boatswain Mate?

[video=youtube;JN_cMAEmilc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN_cMAEmilc[/video]

 

[bd popeye]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

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Aviation Boatswain Mate...rating symbol

Aviation Boatswain Mates are divided into three ratings.

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Navy Aviation Boatswain's Mate
The ABE, ABF, ABH Ratings

Aviation Boatswain Mate

Aviation Boatswain's Mate was established as a rating in 1944. Aviation Boatswain's Mates play a major part in launching and recovering naval aircraft quickly and safely from land or ships. This includes preparing and fueling planes prior to take-off and after landing.

AB's may specialize in launching and recovering aircraft on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, ABE; aircraft fueling and fuel systems, ABF; or aircraft handling, fire fighting and salvage and rescue operations, ABH.

Later in their careers, ABs can earn the advanced AB rating that requires supervision of all these individual specialties.

ABE "A" school is approximately five weeks and ABF & ABH "A" schools are six weeks in duration. All three schools are located in Pensacola, Florida. The AB rating requires a 60 month (5 year) service obligation for those leaving for boot-camp in FY-2013 and beyond.

Aviation Boatswain's Mates Aircraft Handling (ABH)

Direct the movement and spotting (parking) of aircraft ashore and afloat. They operate, maintain, and perform organizational maintenance on ground-handling equipment used for moving and hoisting of aircraft ashore and afloat, and they supervise the securing of aircraft and equipment. ABHs perform crash rescue, firefighting, crash removal, and damage control duties. They perform duties in connection with launching and recovery of aircraft.

Aviation Boatswain's Mate - Launch/Recovery (ABE)

Aviation Boatswain's Mates (Launching and Recovery Equipment) operate, maintain, and perform maintenance on steam catapults, barricades, arresting gear, and associated equipment ashore and afloat. They operate catapult hydraulic systems, retraction engines, water brakes, jet blast deflectors, Integrated Catapult Control Stations (ICCS), jet blast deflector control panels, and arresting gear engines, sheave dampers, deckedge control stations, and associated equipment.

ABEs perform aircraft handling duties related to the operation of aircraft launching and recovery equipment.

Aviation Boatswain's Mate - Fuels - (ABF)

Aviation Boatswain's Mates (Fuels) operate, maintain, and perform organizational maintenance on aviation fueling and lubricating oil systems in CVNs, LHAs, LHDs, and LPDs, including aviation fuel and lubricating oil service stations and pump rooms, piping, valves, pumps, tanks, and portable equipment related to the fuel system. They operate, maintain, and repair valves and piping of purging and protective systems within the Air Department's spaces aboard ship, and they supervise the operation and servicing of fuel farms and equipment associated with the fueling and defueling of aircraft ashore and afloat.

ABFs operate and service motorized fueling equipment, maintain fuel quality surveillance and control in aviation fuel systems ashore and afloat. They train, direct, and supervise firefighting crews, fire rescue teams, and damage control parties in assigned fuel and lubricating oil spaces, and observe and enforce fuel handling safety precautions.

 

[Jeff Head]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

With the launch of the USS Gerald R. Ford now slated for November 9th this year, we can start looking forward to EMALS operations off of the carrier in her trials.

The F-35C has already been launched from the land based EMALS facility, and I am excited to see them soon launced from the Ford too.

[video=youtube;1tPoGpWX0SQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tPoGpWX0SQ[/video]
​

This is technology and stuff the ROW dreams of, but the US Navy is putting into action now. The proof is in the pudding.

 

[thunderchief]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Sources: F-35 Bid Exceeds S. Korean Fighter Budget

SEOUL — Since South Korea launched a multibillion-dollar fighter acquisition plan in 2011, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 has always been regarded the leading candidate due to the “fifth-generation” jet’s stealth functions.

Just a few steps before the finish line, however, the front-runner is on the razor’s edge because the South Korean customer isn’t satisfied with the price guaranteed by the US government.

The other F-X bidders are Boeing with the F-15 Silent Eagle and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s (DAPA) announcement of the latest price bids for the 60-aircraft F-X III competition, at least one bid came in under the budgeted figure of $7.4 billion.

“A bidder submitting a price over the budget won’t be selected as a winner. We can’t make a contract over the budget. That’s the bottom line,” DAPA spokesman Baek Yoon-hyung said.

The spokesman would not specify which bidders were in or out. But multiple sources privy to the bidding confirmed only the F-35 price was over the budget............................

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[Jeff Head]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

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​

The 1.3 hour flight was made by VFA-101 naval aviator Lt. Cmdr. Chris Tabert.

The flight followed a decision by Commander, Naval Air Force, Pacific, Vice Adm. David Buss Aug. 8, granting the Fleet Replacement Squadron interim "safe for flight" status.

"The Lightning II strike fighter represents the future business end of our nuclear powered aircraft carrier force, the embarked carrier air wing," said Buss. "The men and women of VFA-101 are now cleared to take the first steps toward that future as they operate these amazing Navy aircraft and train the aviators who will fly them."

"VFA-101's achievement of the Interim Safe For Flight (ISFF) criteria constitutes a significant milestone in the introduction of the F-35C Lightning II into the fleet," said Capt. Mark Black, commander, Strike Fighter Wing, Pacific. "VFA-101 will now begin to schedule and perform sorties under their own charter from their facilities at Eglin AFB. This will permit the re-established Grim Reapers to begin training for the original flight instructor cadre that will teach future F-35C pilots in the intricacies of mastering the Navy's first 5th generation fighter."

The squadron received the Navy's first F-35C from Lockheed Martin June 22. Today's flight was the first in the new Navy aircraft flown by a VFA-101 pilot at Eglin. "The first flight of Grim Reaper 102 today is the acme of many years hard work and planning by the Sailors of VFA-101 and our Lockheed Martin partners and is an exciting first step in introducing the Navy's first 5th generation fighter to fleet," said VFA Commanding Officer Capt. John Enfield. "Now that we're flying, we will be able to validate and evaluate both the pilot and maintainer syllabi as we train the initial cadre of instructors."

VFA 101 is the F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron, training Navy aircrew and maintenance personnel to fly and repair the F-35C, a fifth generation fighter that combines advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.

"The Interim Safe for Flight will begin in earnest the training of the U. S. Navy personnel in how to maintain this impressive new aircraft," said Black. "Proficient Lockheed Martin technicians will lead Sailors in verifying prescribed maintenance procedures that will ultimately be converted into a robust syllabus that will permit future Navy maintenance personnel to develop the skills necessary to ensure and sustain the flight integrity of the aircraft. Designating VFA-101 as Interim Safe for Flight signifies that the Navy F-35C has begun its service in Naval Aviation for real."

The F-35C will enhance the flexibility, power projection, and strike capabilities of carrier air wings and joint task forces.

By 2025, the Navy's aircraft carrier-based air wings will consist of a mix of the F-35C, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Hawkeye, Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike air vehicles, MH-60R/S helicopters and Carrier Onboard Delivery logistics aircraft.

There are now over 100 trained US military pilots for the F-35s of all types.

Current plans for initial operating capability for the three US military services are:

USMC F-35B - December 2015
USAF F-35A - December 2016
USN F-35C -- February 2019

 

[navyreco]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

[video=youtube;7jJglPPDm-w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jJglPPDm-w[/video]

 

[Equation]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Sources: F-35 Bid Exceeds S. Korean Fighter Budget



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So the F-15 Silent Eagle are being built?