82Whitey51 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Picked one up at the Nats, the new "C" model...hopefully I can get it built without too many cost over runs! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 What's the latest on the engine issue? Haven't seen much in the press since the initial incident. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 What's the latest on the engine issue? Haven't seen much in the press since the initial incident. I guess it is resolved...the "C" model will be in the bounce pattern this week. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Picked one up at the Nats, the new "C" model...hopefully I can get it built without too many cost over runs! That's too funny :lol: ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 (edited) I guess it is resolved...the "C" model will be in the bounce pattern this week. Do they still have all the flight restrictions (low G, no aggressive maneuvers) in place or were they removed? Edited August 11, 2014 by 11bee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Do they still have all the flight restrictions (low G, no aggressive maneuvers)in place or where they removed? That I don't know. It'll be doing FCLPs the next few days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Picked one up at the Nats, the new "C" model...hopefully I can get it built without too many cost over runs! Very nice! Can't wait to get that kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Sure hope that post went through PA if he is who he says he is.... Those same photos are posted on Lockheed's Code One website. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor01 Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 As of yesterday they are still restricted to 350 knots and 3Gs, I'm not sure about the altitude ceiling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 http://aviationweek.com/awin/new-f-35-cost-target-slips-toward-goal However, the company says the unit cost of each variant will be reduced by about 4% lot over lot. Based on pricing targets for LRIP 5, per-unit goals can be projected for the new LRIP 6 and 7 jets.The F-35A airframe, designed for conventional U.S. Air Force takeoff and landing (and the version with greatest appeal to international partners) is projected to cost $100.8 million in LRIP 6 and $96.8 million in LRIP 7. This is the first time since the program began production that the projected unit cost will fall below $100 million. These prices do not include engines; the government contracts separately with Pratt & Whitney to purchase the F135. Pratt will not release its unit price, but a defense official says each F-35A engine costs roughly $14 million, and each F-35B engine is about $38 million. Pratt and the Pentagon are still negotiating terms for LRIP 6 engines, a company spokesman says. These estimates exclude the cost of retrofits to airframes that are required as a result of discoveries in flight testing that is running in parallel with LRIPs 6 and 7. Based on a May report, the Pentagon estimates that airframes in LRIP 6 and 7 would require another $7.4 million for retrofits. The government and Lockheed have agreed to split the amount of those known retrofits at the time of contract signature. Any new problems that crop up in flight trials will require full payment by the government. Adding up known engine costs, retrofit estimates and the target-unit projections, an F-35A in LRIP 6 would cost the U.S. government roughly $118.5 million and in LRIP 7, $114.5 million. Price be droppin, yo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Price be droppin, yo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Nice! LOL Found this too, its from LM but I feel its fairly straight forward and the important quotes are from the government. https://www.f35.com/news/detail/dod-plans-to-deliver-f-35s-5th-gen-capability-at-4th-gen-cost-by-2019 "This is a significant change in business approach within the F-35 program," said Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, F-35 Program Executive Officer. "Industry partners will make an upfront investment into cost cutting measures that the government and taxpayers will reap benefits from by buying F-35s at a lower cost. By 2019, we expect that the F-35 with its unprecedented 5th generation capability will be nearly equal in cost to any other fighter on the market, but with far more advanced capability." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) Nice! LOL Found this too, its from LM but I feel its fairly straight forward and the important quotes are from the government. https://www.f35.com/news/detail/dod-plans-to-deliver-f-35s-5th-gen-capability-at-4th-gen-cost-by-2019 Those are big words... Hope he's correct, if so, it's a major improvement on the status quo. Gotta keep this program on track and keep costs down. The existing USAF fleet is getting old. Who knows when a problem might put most of their legacy aircraft out of commission? http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-grounds-82-f-16ds-due-to-new-cracks-402853/ What's going on with the engine issue? To be honest, I'm a bit surprised about the lack of info on the investigation. Sounds like the entire fleet is still operating with those restrictions in place. Edited August 20, 2014 by 11bee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Fun with landing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Fun with landing. Awesome vid! Thanks for sharing. Out of curiosity; Is it possible for the F-35 to hover with the LG retracted? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 <....> Out of curiosity; Is it possible for the F-35 to hover with the LG retracted? At least according to Hollywood, it can ... ;) :D -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 At least according to Hollywood, it can ... ;)/> :D/> -Gregg Is this a genuine price roll back ? Sorry, couldn't help myself Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- AF-2, the second production F-35 Lightning II for the Air Force, became the first F-35 to reach 1,000 flight hours June 11.Paul Hattendorf, a Lockheed Martin test pilot, was flying an airframe loads envelope expansion mission when the fighter reached the milestone. "AF-2's nickname is 'Workhorse,'” said Randy Thompson, the F-35 Integrated Test Force, government air vehicle lead. "It continues to carry the Flight Sciences testing load, executing its primary mission of loads envelope expansion. Every AF-2 flight-test hour moves the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) enterprise closer to providing our warriors with the Air Force Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and final system development and demonstration maneuvering envelopes.” Thompson added that data collected from all Flight Sciences aircraft help refine the airframe usage spectrum, which in turn allows for a more accurate fleet life determination. "AF-2 is the ‘Pull Gs jet,'” Thompson said. “It was the first aircraft to hit + 9 G and -3 G and to roll at design-load factor. In addition, AF-2 is the first F-35A to intentionally fly in significant airframe buffet at all angles of attack." Both AF-2 and AF-1 ferried to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., from the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas, May 17, 2010. Thompson said AF-2 has specific instrumentation and was calibrated for in-flight loads measurements prior to ferrying to Edwards AFB. In addition, it is instrumented to execute airframe buffet testing; landing, braking and arresting hook testing; and ground and in-flight gun testing. The Lightning II software has 24 million lines of code, which is continually being updated and improved. The ITF team, AF-2 and the rest of the Edwards AFB F-35 test fleet, continues to get closer in getting the world's most advanced fighter into the hands of the warfighter. "The entire F-35 Edwards ITF team and the 412th Test Wing are pressing hard to complete testing required for the 2B fleet release (Marine Corp IOC mission systems software release and Air Force IOC maneuvering envelope release),” Thompson said. “As aircraft compete their slated 2B testing, the team moves ahead with testing required for the final SDD clearances. Post 2B testing milestones include putting the final SDD talons on the Lightning II with the first flight of the small diameter bomb, first gun fire and continued external GBU-12 envelope expansion, as well as beginning to test the final SDD mission systems suite," Thompson said. The planned time frame for the Air Force IOC of its F-35As is August 2016. http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/485666/workhorse-becomes-first-f-35-to-achieve-1000-flight-hours.aspx And yes there is F-35 Pron: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 Awesome vid! Thanks for sharing. Out of curiosity; Is it possible for the F-35 to hover with the LG retracted? Not currently. Mode 4 puts the gear down, as the designers kind if assumed you planned on landing if you go to hover, Could it hover if the software was rewritten? I'm quite sure it could. It's not like the landing gear provides either lift or stability at zero air speed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Not currently. Mode 4 puts the gear down, as the designers kind if assumed you planned on landing if you go to hover, Could it hover if the software was rewritten? I'm quite sure it could. It's not like the landing gear provides either lift or stability at zero air speed. It does change the C.G. having the gear up or down. More or less depending on the way the gear swings. Wonder if that could add to the stability in the hover configuration? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 C.G. swings are on the order of a few inches depending on fuel state. At those altitudes where you expect hover, up or down is well within the margin. The only reason I specifically mentioned the gear w.r.t stability is the overall door configuration is very specific for mode 4, note the inner weapon bay doors are open for example. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 The only reason I specifically mentioned the gear w.r.t stability is the overall door configuration is very specific for mode 4, note the inner weapon bay doors are open for example. Similar to the Harrier, the gun pods and gear doors play an important part in hover dynamics. Besides, in a hover aero drag from the extended gear is not an issue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IrishGreek Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 So, sorry if a stupid question, then does this mean the B will not be able to do things like I remember reading the Harrier doing in ACM, like shifting the nozzles for extra maneuverability? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted August 26, 2014 Author Share Posted August 26, 2014 Similar to the Harrier, the gun pods and gear doors play an important part in hover dynamics. Besides, in a hover aero drag from the extended gear is not an issue. Not all hovers are stationary. Relative to the ship, yes. But the LHD will still be steaming with some forward velocity during recovery. Besides, I wasn't referring to drag, I was referring to stability. As you noted, gear down doors open is a different environment than gear up doors closed when hovering, which is why the program hasn't spent any money trying to create control laws for a condition that only occurs in movies. Though you could theoretically fire the guns in hover without falling from the sky. As for additional maneuverability a la the Harrier, nope. The 3 BSM nozzle pretty much does one thing, point more or less down. The lift fan has a finite transition time to spool up, so not too practical in a dogfight there either. Besides, it's only a 7g airframe any way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IrishGreek Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Thanks Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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