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Lockheed Martin F-35A Logs 50th Mission; F-35B Prepares for Transition to STOVL Flights

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

September 30, 2008

thomas

FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The conventional
takeoff and landing (CTOL) Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) F-35A Lightning II
notched its 50th flight last week in preparation for testing at Edwards Air
Force Base, Calif., while the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL)
variant began a planned modification interval that will lead to STOVL-mode
flight early next year.

In preparation for its deployment to Edwards, the F-35A is conducting a
final series of in-flight refueling tests from its Fort Worth base, having
taken on 12,000 pounds of fuel during a three-hour flight on Thursday,
Sept. 25. Additionally, on Sept. 16, the aircraft flew for the first time
with a full weapons load in its internal bays. The mock-up weapons
duplicate the dimensions and weight of a typical F-35 strike mission
load-out in full stealth configuration: two 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack
Munitions and two Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles.

With more than 5,000 pounds of ordnance in its internal weapons bays,
performance remained strong, with no discernable indication of the
degradation sometimes experienced in current fighters because of
aerodynamic drag. “The acceleration in maximum-afterburner takeoff was very
quick,” said F-35 Chief Test Pilot Jon Beesley. “The climb-out with full
internal weapons carriage was particularly impressive to me. Very pleasant
to see clean-fighter climb rates and angles while carrying a combat load.”

At Edwards Air Force Base, pilots will test the F-35A’s ability to shut
down and restart the engine while airborne.

While AA-1 has been preparing for its Edwards deployment, the STOVL
F-35B has undergone a range of handling-qualities tests, engine-power
transitions from idle to full afterburner, extended its retractable fuel
probe, and opened and closed all of the doors associated with its STOVL
propulsion system. “The aircraft performed exactly as we predicted with the
STOVL doors in their various positions. It has exceeded our expectations in
its 14 flights to date, and this was a key milestone to achieve before
starting vertical flight operations in the next few months,” said Dan
Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general
manager. The tests validated computer modeling and simulation predictions
and moved the aircraft a step closer to vertical flight early next year.

The F-35B now begins a 12-week modification period for system
evaluations, calibrations and software and hardware updates, including the
installation of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine that is certified for short
takeoffs, hovers, vertical landings and the full range of STOVL-mode and
conventional flight. The test plan calls for transition to vertical flight
operations in early 2009.

With four System Development and Demonstration aircraft complete and
the remaining 15 in production, Lockheed Martin plans to begin delivering
one F-35 per month, with all SDD aircraft scheduled for completion by late
2009.

Additionally:

— The second F-35B has already transitioned from production to the
flight line and is undergoing ground testing prior to its projected first
flight in early 2009.

— The first structurally optimized F-35A also has entered final
assembly in the recently completed moving assembly line.

— The first F-35 dedicated solely to ground-test activities has tested
structural components to well beyond their designed load limits.

— The program is on schedule to begin delivery of production-model
aircraft to the armed services beginning in 2010.

The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation stealth fighter.
Three F-35 variants derived from a common design, developed together and
using the same sustainment infrastructure worldwide will replace at least
13 types of aircraft for 11 nations initially, making the Lightning II the
most cost-effective fighter program in history.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security
company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally
engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The
corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

F-35 and Lightning II are trademarks of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company

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