Cool F-35 Carrier Variant Drop Test Video

[Rubicks13]

Wow F-35 Carrier is dropping like a rock!

F-35 Drop Video. (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3ad9e5f871-0b74-4b14-aa2c-e626c24430f7)

[Double Zero]

OK I'll bite.

Let's forget the 'cool' stuff and actually look at the test film...they wouldn't be doing such a test for a laugh, so presumably it IS representative of the real thing.

Looks a touch bouncy and nose heavy to me, but I've never had to land a fast jet on a carrier - though I've never done the " stop then land " alternative either, it seems a lot more appealing, and I've recently learned ( thanks ! ) of fast jets failing to trap at least in theory having the reserve energy to do a bolter, while maybe the F-35B won't - I'd still prefer to crash at 60 kts than 160 !

Would anyone with such cat n' trap experience care to comment please ?

DZ

[Could be the last?]

What's the big deal??

You have obviously never been on a Rotary OCU/Shawbs when they give the 2-winged master race a go at landing the ac for the first time!!!!:ok:

[Trim Stab]

So what? The bizjet I fly survives worse landings than that every day.

[CirrusF]

More pertinent would be a video of the F35A RAF version being tested for a wheels up landing...

[kitwe]

RAF F35A??? Thought we were ordering the F35B. Cheap shot CirrusF!

[neildo]

Another cool :} new F35 video with the chief test pilot. I sadly know nothing of harrier handling but wouldn't mind hearing the thoughts of some who perhaps know more on the comments made in the video.

Edit: would really help if i posted the link

YouTube - Taking STOVL to a new level - the F-35B (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxOLzKlpnfE)

[BOAC]

No 'deck time' but many hours of beers etc with those who have, and I gather that when the deck is pitching up to meet you in a force 8 as you descend gracefully toward it, 26fps is just a taster.

[John Farley]

Neildo

I would agree every word that John said about the STOVL handling of the Harrier and the F-35B

The software that allows the simple use of the stick to go up or down regardless of airspeed is surely the holy grail of aviation – on the approach it is as if you are flying an aircraft had has no stall speed.

This flight control system was developed in the UK using the VAAC Harrier research aircraft at Bedford and later Boscombe Down and purchased by the Joint Programme Office of the JSF for the B version.

JF