Learjet collides with Eurofighter Typhoon/Fire breaks out on F-35A

F-35:

There is currently no stand down of aircraft following the fire that occurred. They're still attempting to determine the cause.

The Air Force has pledged to release more details as they become available. They have said that the damage to the aircraft is "extensive". All F-35A operations at Eglin have been suspended while they determine the cause.

The Marines chose to pause operations with the F-35Bs, and expect to resume flights tomorrow. The Air Force chose to continue the hold, in the interest of safety. Initial assessments seem to suggest that this was an isolated incident. The SIB will begin investigating as soon as board members are seated, and will have the investigation done with in 30 days. The AIB will have their report done within 60-90 days.

As of Wed, the Marines are still planning on participating in Fairford. They are scheduled to leave tomorrow with 2 KC10's:

(I'm sure if the AF comes out with dire info on the fire in the next 24 hrs that could change.)

aviationweek.com...

Seems removing the F-35's fueldraulic fuses to save weight, cost and development time wasn't such a bright idea after all.

LEE.

originally posted by: Sammamishman
As of Wed, the Marines are still planning on participating in Fairford. They are scheduled to leave tomorrow with 2 KC10's:

(I'm sure if the AF comes out with dire info on the fire in the next 24 hrs that could change.)

aviationweek.com...

Lol two kc-10s? What a waste of taxpayer dollars.

a reply to: boomer135

If it's similar to the Harrier there's no choice. It used to amaze me that a single R model could drag 6 F-16s in a single hop, but only 2 Harriers going less distance.

An unconfirmed report from an anonymous source makes it sound like the engine came apart on the takeoff roll. There were reportedly engine pieces found on the runway.

The F-35Bs left Yuma yesterday to Pax River, with the UK bird flying up from Eglin. Looks like there will be four in country now, instead of three. They're taking two KC-10s (10-12 refuelings each on the way), a KC-130J, and a C-17 with them. They're going to fly out of B-2 shelters are Fairford, with a planned flight to Scotland for the ceremony on July 4th for the new carrier.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Are they going to do any landings on the deck of the Queen Elizabeth? She is supposed to be launched in July, just not sure how far along her construction is and if the deck is ready for some scorching.
That would be quite a sight to see 4 B's landing on her deck and be good PR for the Royal Navy.

a reply to: Sammamishman

So far the only thing I've heard is they're going to be part of the flyover that they're going to do at the ceremony. I don't think she's ready for landings yet.

Naming ceremony takes place in a dry dock and is then filled with water over the next while - a long way off landing F-35s mores the shame.

10-12 refuellings - madness (sorry about the link title):

aviationweek.com... D=%27email%27&YM_MID=%27mmid%27&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: boomer135

If it's similar to the Harrier there's no choice. It used to amaze me that a single R model could drag 6 F-16s in a single hop, but only 2 Harriers going less distance.

I disagree. 2 KC-135s could easily take four of them across the pond. and 10-12 refuelings each? Who wrote this? The trip from Maryland to England is 7-7 1/2 hours. They refuel about every 1:30-1:45. Unless they will be doing a # load of practice which doesn't make since when your flying at Mach .89, have to slow down to refueling speed, and then speed back up. Just doesn't make since logistically to me.

The F-16 without tanks only holds 6000 pounds less fuel that the b model f-35 (13,500 pounds). Usually an f-16 going across the pond will take on 3-4K every 1:30-2 hrs. From what I understand in testing, the f-35 is taking between 5-6K of fuel in the same time period (and that's normal testing, not high altitude cruise flight).

Idk, I know that's what the KC-10 is designed to do, but it seems like a waste of money to me to have that big ass plane fly with them...

a reply to: boomer135

We used to see it every year. Twelve Harriers going West, with the same number going East. Each group with six tankers, two Harriers to a tanker, either KC-10 or -135, all the tankers going the entire distance with them.

I don't know about the F-35, but with this being the first overseas deployment they may be playing it safe.

duh!

a reply to: Zaphod58

Only got to do the harriers a few times. but your probably right. however remember going west is way different that going east. at altitude, a 100 knot tailwind can increase your ground speed a 100 knots. Only one freaking time out of probably a hundred of going west across the northern atlantic did we have a tailwind. It sucked ass. it would take us about 630 to fly from north Dakota to Mildenhall and about 8 hours to fly it the way back.

of course we always paid the scheduler for the fighter coronets because we could fly .89 mach across the ocean instead of endurance.

How would they pull them out of the sea if they godforbid have to bail?

I was thinking the same as you Boomer, its a 6 - 7 hour flight commercial - thats a refuel every 35 minutes, how long does it take to refuel, it pretty much means they will be permanently attached to the drogue. I thought this bird had some endurance...

a reply to: IamSirDrinksalot

The B has the shortest legs of the three due to the lift fan. The A and C both have extra fuel capacity instead of having to remove that capacity for the lift fan mechanism.

a reply to: boomer135

Even going East they needed extra fuel. Going west we'd launch a couple extra tankers to go to the first or second AR point and head back.

The Harrier is a thirsty beast, and was never very efficient.

The Learjet was playing non-responsive hijacked aircraft to the Typhoon's interceptor. The aircraft involved had moved up next to the Lear for visual inspection, as is standard. Six minutes later, the Lear crew reported they had "overpowered the hijacker and were back in control". The Typhoon went into a left bank at 27 degrees at this point. The Lear crew disengaged the autopilot, and went into a 5 degree bank to the right, followed by a 4 degree bank to the left, and an increase in engine power to 88%. At this point the crew commented they had lost sight of the escort, and increased the bank to 13 degrees. The Typhoon remained at a consistent bank angle, while the Lear increased to 52 degrees. The Learjet impacted the right engine area of the Typhoon causing significant damage to the exhaust nozzle, as well as destroying the right external fuel tank, and impacting the right missile rail on the wingtip.

www.flightglobal.com...