For 'PhilipG' to ease concern about flying the F-35B with a hint perhaps about 'automatic VLs' - after suitable testing we may see 'automatic SRVLs'? Dunno. Just spitballin'. Remember with JPALS F-35Cs will be landing completely automatically also....
Jim’s vertical landing is a Lightning II eye-opener desider 02 July 2013
"SQUADRON LEADER Jim Schofield has again praised the capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-35B after completing a vertical landing of the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Lightning II.
After the flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River in the US, Sqn Ldr Schofield said: “The F-35 has truly revolutionised STOVL flying. With legacy types, such as Harrier, the pilot was always working hard to land the aircraft onto a hover pad or ship.
“Now with F-35B, at the press of a button the aircraft transforms into ‘short take-off or vertical landing’ mode whereupon the aircraft can take off or hover hands-off. This means pilots will require less training and operating the aircraft will be much safer than legacy types. It’s a fantastic aircraft to fly...."
https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...2_july2013.pdf (6.5Mb)
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Repeated also on the 'other long running thread'...
UK Will Try To Boost F-35B Landing Weight by Chris Pocock AIN Defense Perspective 05 July 2013
"Senior British military officials confirmed that the UK will conduct shipboard rolling vertical landing (SRVL) trials on the F-35B version of the Lockheed Martin Lightning II stealth combat jet. The SRVL technique would allow the aircraft to land at higher weights than is currently possible in the VTOL mode....
...The officials said they are satisfied that the F-35B could bring back the internal weapons load that is initially planned, comprising–in the UK case–two AMRAAM air-air missiles and two Paveway IV smart bombs weighing some 5,000 pounds. But, one added, when high temperature and/or low pressure conditions prevail–such as in the Gulf of Oman–it would be prudent to achieve another 2,000 to 4,000 pounds of bring-back weight, for either fuel or weapons, especially since the F-35 will be able to carry additional weapons on wing pylons, when stealth is not a requirement....
...the UK’s three T&E jets will embark on the new Queen Elizabeth II aircraft carrier for trials in the same year[2018]."
UK Will Try To Boost F-35B Landing Weight | Aviation International News