F-35 Cancelled, then what ?
Australia is likely to commit to buying 58 more Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightnings this month, setting aside the alternative of consolidating its combat aircraft squadrons on the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The decision will increase the country's total commitment to 72 F-35s and expand the Royal Australian Air Force's fast-jet fleet, counting a separate order for 12 EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft as additional to, not part of, the fighter force renewal.
The defense department has recommended the F-35 order, probably worth around $8 billion, and the proposal has the endorsement of a leading think-tank. The government shows every sign of accepting the recommendation, says a source closely connected to the authorities. Accordingly, Lockheed Martin has probably escaped the danger of losing one of its largest F-35 customers, one that has already backed away from an original requirement for about 100 of the stealthy fighters. Even the risk that Australia could trim its commitment a little further now looks low, although that option was suggested by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute think-tank.
The defense department has recommended the F-35 order, probably worth around $8 billion, and the proposal has the endorsement of a leading think-tank. The government shows every sign of accepting the recommendation, says a source closely connected to the authorities. Accordingly, Lockheed Martin has probably escaped the danger of losing one of its largest F-35 customers, one that has already backed away from an original requirement for about 100 of the stealthy fighters. Even the risk that Australia could trim its commitment a little further now looks low, although that option was suggested by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute think-tank.
For a plane that is allegedly cancelled, they sure seem to be going into production.
Is the title to this thread now completely overcome by events?
Is the title to this thread now completely overcome by events?
It is the F35B which has the highest chance of being a real turkey,the A + C have the potential to be slightly less Turkeyish !
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The Whyte House
Age: 95
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is the F35B which has the highest chance of being a real turkey,the A + C have the potential to be slightly less Turkeyish !
Mr Whyte, the clutch is well-engineered and completely integrated into the aircraft systems. I mean, how many other parts can recognise their own failing and automatically fire you out of the aircraft….
Ahh, I see your point.
Ahh, I see your point.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 75
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
Received 52 Likes
on
45 Posts
F-35 Lightning II jet to make maiden British flight
F-35 Lightning II jet to make maiden British flight
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/f...british-flight
________________________________
UPDATE 3-F-35 fighter jet to make first trans-Atlantic flight in July 16 Apr 2014 Andrea Shalal
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0N80Y220140416
____________________________
F-35B set to make international debut at RIAT, Farnborough 16 Apr 2014 Flight Global
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...orough-398334/
"The F-35 Lightning II will make its international debut in July at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford and in the same month will also fly at the Farnborough International Air Show....
...The Royal International Air Tattoo is open to the public from 11-13 July and Farnborough International Air Show is open to trade visitors from 14-18 July and open to the public 19-20 July."
...The Royal International Air Tattoo is open to the public from 11-13 July and Farnborough International Air Show is open to trade visitors from 14-18 July and open to the public 19-20 July."
________________________________
UPDATE 3-F-35 fighter jet to make first trans-Atlantic flight in July 16 Apr 2014 Andrea Shalal
"...Current plans call for several F-35s to participate in the air shows, including at least one of the three F-35 B-model jets already built for Britain, with a UK pilot at the controls.
U.S. and UK officials agreed on the need to bring over a number of aircraft to avoid any technical flight disruptions....
...U.S. defense officials said the overseas flights would be used for additional training and would help the F-35 program office learn how the plane's logistics, maintenance, aerial refueling, and security systems work overseas...."
U.S. and UK officials agreed on the need to bring over a number of aircraft to avoid any technical flight disruptions....
...U.S. defense officials said the overseas flights would be used for additional training and would help the F-35 program office learn how the plane's logistics, maintenance, aerial refueling, and security systems work overseas...."
____________________________
F-35B set to make international debut at RIAT, Farnborough 16 Apr 2014 Flight Global
"...The appearance also represents a logistical challenge for the F-35 flight test team. More than seven years and 15,200 flight hours after first flight in December 2006, the F-35 still has not crossed an ocean.
But the programme has been preparing for the extended trip across the Atlantic. On 25 February, a joint sortie by AF-6 and BF-18 – F-35A and B models, respectively – completed a 5.7h mission.
The nature of the F-35 flying display in the UK has not been announced, but the test team appears to be prepared despite the aircraft remaining at least. In March, an F-35B performed a full aerial display at the MCAS Yuma, Arizona, Air Show, featuring several high-speed passes in normal mode and low-speed passes in STOVL configuration.
In the final pass, the F-35B slowed to a hover about 100m over the runway, pivoted about 45 degrees, and then accelerated to make a final turn and land in normal mode."
But the programme has been preparing for the extended trip across the Atlantic. On 25 February, a joint sortie by AF-6 and BF-18 – F-35A and B models, respectively – completed a 5.7h mission.
The nature of the F-35 flying display in the UK has not been announced, but the test team appears to be prepared despite the aircraft remaining at least. In March, an F-35B performed a full aerial display at the MCAS Yuma, Arizona, Air Show, featuring several high-speed passes in normal mode and low-speed passes in STOVL configuration.
In the final pass, the F-35B slowed to a hover about 100m over the runway, pivoted about 45 degrees, and then accelerated to make a final turn and land in normal mode."
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 17th Apr 2014 at 00:28. Reason: 2nd QUOTE & 3rd
Bit late to start CV integration...
Fact is that the F-35B (not yet cleared with external fuel) has the shortest range of any fighter that I can think of that has routinely been deployed across the pond. Not that it can't be done but it will need a lot of tanker support to maintain safe fuel levels.
And whatever they do about VLs, rolling VLs, creeping VLs or SLs in the UK will be interesting, one way or another.
Fact is that the F-35B (not yet cleared with external fuel) has the shortest range of any fighter that I can think of that has routinely been deployed across the pond. Not that it can't be done but it will need a lot of tanker support to maintain safe fuel levels.
And whatever they do about VLs, rolling VLs, creeping VLs or SLs in the UK will be interesting, one way or another.
RIAT and Farnborough confirmed
LowObservable wrote:
No worse than trailing Harrier GR3s back from Goose Bay, I would imagine?
Maus92 wrote:
Not KC-130Js, I would venture.....
F-35Bs? The tanker crews will be busy bunnies.
Maus92 wrote:
The KC-130Js better be stuffed with spares.
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Annapolis
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is going to be a Marines marketing wet dream, so I'd expect they'll want to use the KC-130Js, even if it wasn't the optimal choice - If they had their MV-22 refuelers working, they'd want to use them. If they go with the KC-130Js, I'd imagine that the USAF *might* detail a KC-10 (not a KC-135 - their basket-to-boom drogues could snap off at the most inopportune time,) just in case... Good thing this is happening now rather than a few years later when the USAF has retired its KC-10s (to afford to buy its F-35As.)
Beags - The GR3 could carry drop tanks and had a higher-bypass engine than the F-35, and the F-35B has about the same internal fuel fraction as an F-16. The B's combat radius, all-hi-alt, is about 450 nm so its ferry range will be around or under 1000 nm. Harriers do better than that.
The F-35B tanked from a KC-10 last summer. You could do it with KC-130Js but it would be a complex little ballet.
The F-35B tanked from a KC-10 last summer. You could do it with KC-130Js but it would be a complex little ballet.
The issue is not so much the fuel fraction as the availability of en-route abort aerodromes. If Kangerlussuaq and Keflavik are open, then fine.....
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Business: Washington Post Business Page, Business News
Fortunately, GE/RR motor was euthanized.
Bogdan blamed Pratt & Whitney for failing to reduce engine costs as fast as promised, which he said accounts for $1.7 billion of the increase.
“Pratt’s not meeting its commitment,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. They told us years ago that the engine was going to come down at a certain rate in terms of price, and they haven’t met it. Not good. Not good at all.”
“Pratt’s not meeting its commitment,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. They told us years ago that the engine was going to come down at a certain rate in terms of price, and they haven’t met it. Not good. Not good at all.”
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Fortunately, GE/RR motor was euthanized.
F-35 Cost Up $7.8B, Bogdan Fires on Pratt
......Bogdan seems frustrated by the lack of leverage he has in dealing with a monopoly engine provider. “There is only one engine on the F-35. Period,” he said. “When you are in a sole source environment it is difficult to find the right leverage and motivation and drive the cost out of a program.”........
LowObservable wrote:
Of course. Making some F-35B assumptions concerning fuel burn rates and fuel onload rate, using Gander, Keflavik and Prestwick as abort aerodromes with a 1000 kg fuel on ground requirement, even with a single hose tanker and reasonable weather, a conservative refuelling plan from Bangor to Fairford (across the pond from DOTTY to QQ1, then TACAN route to WD2) would require 6 brackets per receiver assuming internal fuel only and 1200 kg at Fairford. Total flight time just over 6 hours.
Using normal criteria and mounting the trail from Gander, a CC-150T Polaris on an average day could probably trail 5 x F-35B (internal fuel only) on the route, even with a single hose failure, with a flight time of just under 5 hours and about 6500 kg transferred to each F-35B.
Right, Beags, and just make sure there's enough gas at all times to reach them.
Using normal criteria and mounting the trail from Gander, a CC-150T Polaris on an average day could probably trail 5 x F-35B (internal fuel only) on the route, even with a single hose failure, with a flight time of just under 5 hours and about 6500 kg transferred to each F-35B.
Last edited by BEagle; 18th Apr 2014 at 16:53.