F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

Copied from Lockheed site...s'more cheerleadin', interesting tho'
sojourner

"The maturity of this highly integrated aircraft for its second flight is
dazzling - when it's time to fly it is always ready and takes minimal time
to get out of the chocks," said Jon Beesley, F-35 Chief Test Pilot. "The
flight underscores that the Lightning II flies just as our engineers
predicted. This was the first time that we have retracted the landing gear
and the aircraft handling qualities were outstanding. I continue to be
impressed by this marvelous airplane's performance and handling
characteristics."

Approximately 10 minutes into the flight, Beesley retracted the landing gear
and climbed from 15,000 to 20,000 feet to evaluate handling qualities and
engine operation in the cruise mode at Mach 0.6 (~ 450 m.p.h.) and Mach 0.7
(~ 530 m.p.h.). The handling tests included rolls, turns, angle-of-attack
changes and engine throttle changes. The flight lasted 62 minutes and was
executed exactly as planned. It followed the aircraft's successful first
flight on Dec. 15, when the F-35 demonstrated unprecedented engine
performance and handling qualities. The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role,
5TH Generation stealth fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing
aircraft, including AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United
Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers.

Lockheed Martin is developing the Lightning II with its principal industrial
partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable
F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE
Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

"With this successful flight and its broad array of test points, F-35 flight
test has really begun," said Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice
president and F-35 program general manager. "The ease of starting and flying
this aircraft is a reflection of the quality of the team who designed and
built it."

The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5TH Generation stealth fighter
designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8B
Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and
Sea Harriers.

wrote in :


Copied from Lockheed site...s'more cheerleadin', interesting tho'
sojourner


The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5TH Generation stealth fighter
designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8B
Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s
and Sea Harriers.


Which raises the question, who is it supposed to be
used against?

"Mitchell Holman" wrote in message
...
wrote in :


Copied from Lockheed site...s'more cheerleadin', interesting tho'
sojourner


The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5TH Generation stealth fighter
designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8B
Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s
and Sea Harriers.


Which raises the question, who is it supposed to be
used against?

Anyone who is currently faced with AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18
Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers.

Personally, I wouldn't replace the A-10 with the F-35 - it's the wrong
aircraft all the way - too fast; too 'fragile'; payload's too small etc.
Only aircraft to replace the A-10 would be a two-seat A-10.

--
Alan Erskine

I think that they are planning on using the new small diameter bombs for
ground support. Certainly no plane can carry that massive GAU8 rotary
cannon. But with the radar and computers of the JSF it can easily ID
several targets and program a single SDB against each.

"miket6065" wrote in message
. net...
I think that they are planning on using the new small diameter bombs for
ground support. Certainly no plane can carry that massive GAU8 rotary
cannon. But with the radar and computers of the JSF it can easily ID
several targets and program a single SDB against each.

Not at the speed it will be travelling at. It will cover the battlefield in
half the time of the A-10; that's a major problem.

And don't forget battle damage; no aircraft flying can absorb the amount of
damage an A-10 can survive.

--
Alan Erskine

Alan Erskine wrote:
...
And don't forget battle damage; no aircraft flying can absorb the
amount of
damage an A-10 can survive.
...

Something that can be said about Su-25. Except that in case of Su-25
there's more combat-based evidence that supports that statement.

Alan Erskine wrote:
...
And don't forget battle damage; no aircraft flying can absorb the
amount of
damage an A-10 can survive.
...

Something that can be said about Su-25. Except that in case of Su-25
there's more combat-based evidence that supports that statement.

In article , Alan Erskine
writes
"miket6065" wrote in message
.net...
I think that they are planning on using the new small diameter bombs for
ground support. Certainly no plane can carry that massive GAU8 rotary
cannon. But with the radar and computers of the JSF it can easily ID
several targets and program a single SDB against each.

Not at the speed it will be travelling at. It will cover the battlefield in
half the time of the A-10; that's a major problem.

The A10 was designed to deal with battles that were going to occur
within close range of the bases it would be deployed in. So it's lack of
speed comes out as a net advantage as long as it's armour holds out.

Nowadays it isn't so simple (unless you are the aggressor), the battle
field might be far from your main bases which means that the ability to
transition to the combat area quickly could outweigh the advantages of
being slow enough to aim at the targets manually.

And don't forget battle damage; no aircraft flying can absorb the amount of
damage an A-10 can survive.


I don't doubt it (1) but out of interest.

How many battles have A10's been in?

How many A10's have been sold outside the US?

(1) Actually those big fan engines have always worried me, I
have always thought that stuff designed/targeted to explode just above
and in front of the A10 so that the engines run through all the
debris/shrapnel would be extremely effective, as a bonus for such
targeting the top of an A10 is (AIUI) barely any tougher than any other
combat plane.
--
How does a rocket/jet engine work?
"It's not that hard.
Stuff goes in, stuff happens, stuff goes out faster than it came in."
- Ian Stirling
aRJay

In article , Alan Erskine
writes
"miket6065" wrote in message
.net...
I think that they are planning on using the new small diameter bombs for
ground support. Certainly no plane can carry that massive GAU8 rotary
cannon. But with the radar and computers of the JSF it can easily ID
several targets and program a single SDB against each.

Not at the speed it will be travelling at. It will cover the battlefield in
half the time of the A-10; that's a major problem.

The A10 was designed to deal with battles that were going to occur
within close range of the bases it would be deployed in. So it's lack of
speed comes out as a net advantage as long as it's armour holds out.

Nowadays it isn't so simple (unless you are the aggressor), the battle
field might be far from your main bases which means that the ability to
transition to the combat area quickly could outweigh the advantages of
being slow enough to aim at the targets manually.

And don't forget battle damage; no aircraft flying can absorb the amount of
damage an A-10 can survive.


I don't doubt it (1) but out of interest.

How many battles have A10's been in?

How many A10's have been sold outside the US?

(1) Actually those big fan engines have always worried me, I
have always thought that stuff designed/targeted to explode just above
and in front of the A10 so that the engines run through all the
debris/shrapnel would be extremely effective, as a bonus for such
targeting the top of an A10 is (AIUI) barely any tougher than any other
combat plane.
--
How does a rocket/jet engine work?
"It's not that hard.
Stuff goes in, stuff happens, stuff goes out faster than it came in."
- Ian Stirling
aRJay

"miket6065" wrote in message
. net...
I think that they are planning on using the new small diameter bombs for
ground support. Certainly no plane can carry that massive GAU8 rotary
cannon. But with the radar and computers of the JSF it can easily ID
several targets and program a single SDB against each.

Not at the speed it will be travelling at. It will cover the battlefield in
half the time of the A-10; that's a major problem.

And don't forget battle damage; no aircraft flying can absorb the amount of
damage an A-10 can survive.

--
Alan Erskine