The F-35 does have an FDR Flight Data Recorder, parts of it were recovered from the under sea wreckage of the Japanese F-35A crash (due to
SD) for example. Other crash reports usually mention the FDR. Meanwhile an interesting if again vague article on this F-35B crash/mishap.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...arolina-update
...The pilot, who said he was 47, reported feeling “OK” after falling what he estimated was 2,000ft. Only his back hurt, he said....
...The Marines have described the pilot as an experienced aviator with decades of experience in the cockpit. The F-35 crashed Sunday after a malfunction prompted the pilot to eject...
...The Marine Corps said Thursday that a feature on fighter jets intended to protect pilots in emergencies could explain how the F-35 managed to continue its travels. They said that while it was unclear why the jet kept flying, flight control software would have worked to keep it steady if there were no longer a pilot’s hands on the controls. “If the jet is stable in level flight, the jet will attempt to stay there. If it was in an established climb or descent, the jet will maintain a 1G state in that climb or descent until commanded to do something else,” the Marine Corps said in a statement. “This is designed to save our pilots if they are incapacitated or lose situational awareness.”
[SD]...
...However, the Marines said the feature that kept the plane flying may not only have saved the life of the pilot but of others on the ground. “The good news is it appeared to work as advertised. The other bit of silver lining in this case is that through the F-35 flying away it avoided crashing into a densely populated area surrounding the airport, and fortunately crashed into an empty field and forested area,” the statement said."
Last para above may refer to: "
Saving the Good Guys with Auto GCAS Technology The cockpit of a fighter jet is a busy and dangerous place to work. High-speed fighter aircraft maneuvers can produce g-forces strong enough to render a pilot unconscious or cause
spatial disorientation. The pace and complexity of modern aerial combat can also mentally “overload” a pilot and lead to task saturation or target fixation. All can prove deadly...."
Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) | Lockheed Martin
F-35WhatisAutoGCASNoTITLE.jpg (2400×1148) (lockheedmartin.com)
