Post by Sailor on Nov 14, 2014 17:55:04 GMT -8
Navy's F-35C Takes Historic Step Forward Following Budgetary Turmoil
ABOARD THE USS NIMITZ IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN -- With smoke rising from the deck of the carrier and moderate winds churning up the seas, the Navy's F-35C took off from the aircraft carrier Nimitz as part of a historic series of test flights marking a major milestone in the service's first carrier-launched stealth fighter.
Following the first landing of the F-35C on Nov. 3, test pilots have conducted more than 100 approaches, landings and takeoffs on the Nimitz's flight deck. Last week's successful landing offered both history and relief for a Joint Strike Fighter program that Pentagon leaders say will revolutionize airpower, but has also been plagued by countless delays and budget overruns.
The Navy's variant of the fifth-generation fighter is arguably the most complex because it must execute catapult shots and landings from the flight deck. And it's also the one facing the most questions as many defense analysts have questioned the Navy's commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter program.
More here with a short video:
www.military.com/daily-news/2014/11/14/navy-f35c-takes-historic-step-forward-after-budgetary-turmoil.html?ESRC=eb.nl
I'm still not really happy with a single engine plane operating 100's of miles from land. If something goes wrong with that engine further than just a few miles from the carrier ... it's a long swim back to the boat. That's one reason I was hopeing for something closer to the F-22, a twin engine design. Lose an engine you might still be able to coax the thing back onto the ship.
And typical of know nothing writers ... "smoke rising from the deck" is actually residual steam venting from a catapult.
ABOARD THE USS NIMITZ IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN -- With smoke rising from the deck of the carrier and moderate winds churning up the seas, the Navy's F-35C took off from the aircraft carrier Nimitz as part of a historic series of test flights marking a major milestone in the service's first carrier-launched stealth fighter.
Following the first landing of the F-35C on Nov. 3, test pilots have conducted more than 100 approaches, landings and takeoffs on the Nimitz's flight deck. Last week's successful landing offered both history and relief for a Joint Strike Fighter program that Pentagon leaders say will revolutionize airpower, but has also been plagued by countless delays and budget overruns.
The Navy's variant of the fifth-generation fighter is arguably the most complex because it must execute catapult shots and landings from the flight deck. And it's also the one facing the most questions as many defense analysts have questioned the Navy's commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter program.
More here with a short video:
www.military.com/daily-news/2014/11/14/navy-f35c-takes-historic-step-forward-after-budgetary-turmoil.html?ESRC=eb.nl
I'm still not really happy with a single engine plane operating 100's of miles from land. If something goes wrong with that engine further than just a few miles from the carrier ... it's a long swim back to the boat. That's one reason I was hopeing for something closer to the F-22, a twin engine design. Lose an engine you might still be able to coax the thing back onto the ship.
And typical of know nothing writers ... "smoke rising from the deck" is actually residual steam venting from a catapult.
