F-35: First Flight Imminent

First flight of the Lockheed F-35 Lightning is imminent according to sources. At this point the 1st F-35 is in need of the final paint job, but other than aesthetics the aircraft is basically ready to fly.

Test runs of the engine have been made, even with afterburner. Testing continues with the electronics systems and as soon as they get a thumbs up on that it will probably take flight.

Chief Test Pilot for the F-35 program, Jon Beesley has been selected to fly the Lightning on it's maiden flight.



Above, the first F-35 tests it's afterburners.

Will it be escorted? If I remember the F-22 was escorted by an F-16 from the Thunderbirds.

Originally posted by Figher Master FIN
Will it be escorted? If I remember the F-22 was escorted by an F-16 from the Thunderbirds.

Yes, I'm sure there will be a chase plane - there always is for first flights.

why is there a chase plane?

justin

Originally posted by justin_barton3
why is there a chase plane?

justin

I'am not an expert but I think they film the plane so they can analyse the data. And also it's good to have an other plane there if something goes wrong. Also it makes the whole first flight a bit more festive.

you want somebody that can take a good close look at all your equipment from the outside.

The reason became obvious in the early part of the JSF program, when the chase plane spotted hydrolic fluid leaking from the Boeing X32.

It's there to provide safety and film the flight.

There is no future if thrust less than 45000lb on F-35!

Originally posted by emile
There is no future if thrust less than 45000lb on F-35!

What are you talking about? The official rated thrust for the F-35 is 43,000lb which is more than enough for a strike fighter.

Emile, please be careful what you had stated. The F135 engine is the most powerful ever built in white-world fighter jets. It is twice more powerful than Eurofighter Typhoon's twin engines can combined! The designers even said that the single engine can carry three empty-loaded of F-35 easily into air. Think about it, how powerful 40,000 lbs of thrust can be. F-22 got F119 engines and they will have these engines someday in upgrade program or new variant known as F-22C. Doesn't it have nice ring to that?

Originally posted by OneMyrmidon
It is twice more powerful than Eurofighter Typhoon's twin engines can combined!

umm, haven't you already been proved wrong by someone on this in another thread??

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Originally posted by st3ve_o

Originally posted by OneMyrmidon
It is twice more powerful than Eurofighter Typhoon's twin engines can combined!

umm, haven't you already been proved wrong by someone on this in another thread??

www.abovetopsecret.com...

I think he's going under the assumption that the F-135 generates 43,000 lbs of thrust...which may be true...but I'll go with the stats the the engine builder says. (which is 40,000 lbs)
P&W F-135

Is this the F-35 cockpit?



If it is, what happened to that big screened F-35 cockpit, was that just a concept?

That's not the F-35 cockpit, the F-35 doesn't even have a HUD and that thing has Chinese characters on it! This is the real F-35 cockpit and the helmet system pics are in the link.





Link

BTW, some sources within the program say as of now the dates are as followed, though they are still open to change.

Dec 05 - Low Speed Taxi Tests

Dec 07 - Medium Speed Taxi Tests

Dec 09 - High Speed Taxi Tests

Dec 11 - First Flight

Dec 13 - Second Flight

[edit on 3-12-2006 by WestPoint23]

Originally posted by justin_barton3
why is there a chase plane?

To find out who to blame it on: The airframe guy, the engine guy, or the instrument guy . Sorry, I couldn't resist. That was evil of me.

This is interesting. I'm happy to see the F-35 finally getting into it. It's less ugly than the X-32 .

The F-35 Lightning II is a beaut!
Personally, the Air Force should seriously consider leaving F-22 Raptor numbers at their end projections and concentrate on building the Lightning II in adequate numbers.

thanks westpoint...good to know that she'll finally take to the skies within a week.

Originally posted by chinawhite
Is this the F-35 cockpit?



If it is, what happened to that big screened F-35 cockpit, was that just a concept?

Does anyone know which plane this cockpit belongs to?

that looks like some chinese on the top left hand side in red...
What have they done to this website!!!

I got this picture off a chinese website, so those words might mean something like the posters name or website.

It does look a little bit like the FC-1 at a glance but i have checked it closer and its dis-similar.