The titanium issue has no direct connection to an engine fire that caused the F-35 fleet to be grounded this spring and miss a pair of major European aerospace shows. The fire, officials concluded, was caused by fan blades rubbing.
The part for which the titanium was used is called a fan-variable vane arm and had already been installed in more than 100 engines. The existing parts are to be replaced during regular maintenance at Pratt & Whitney's cost.
General Bogdan said the natural “flex” of the mishap engine under high-G conditions caused fan blades to “rub” and “dig too deep” in the rubber-like seal around the power plant.
Hmm, may take a little doing to stop the flexing of the engine inside the current flight envelope. Keep in mind the flight envelope has been reduced from what was originally expected and promised.