UK F-35B Lost

[RAFEngO74to09]

From HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Pilot ejected safely.

(1) Navy Lookout on Twitter: "MoD says a British F-35 pilot from @HMSQNLZ ejected during routine flying operations in the Mediterranean this morning. The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun. #CSG21 https://t.co/OpdQzYGLHS" / Twitter

[NutLoose]

Good to hear, I take a major recovery is in operation? As there will be more than one interested party in it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59323895

[albatross]

Ok, so that’s a very expensive “Bang”.
Hopefully it is still under warranty or has the “Replacement Value” endorsement on the insurance.
Glad the pilot is OK.
Is this the first operational F-35 loss worldwide?

[Ninthace]

Originally Posted by albatross

Ok, so that’s a very expensive “Bang”.
Hopefully it is still under warranty or has the “Replacement Value” endorsement on the insurance.
Glad the pilot is OK.
Is this the first operational F-35 loss worldwide?

No. Goggle is your friend.

[ORAC]

Is this the first operational F-35 loss worldwide?

No.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/mil...ir-force-base/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-47876128

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockhe...able_incidents

[134brat]

Maybe not the first loss. I could be wrong about it but l seem to remember an incident in the US with an F35 and KC130.

[Fonsini]

Happy the pilot is ok.

I wonder what stage of flight the aircraft was in, hopefully this isn’t a lift fan issue otherwise the SHAR fans will be all over it.

[Saintsman]

Well fortunately, the UK government seem to be quite flush at the moment, so they can afford to buy another one...

[dctyke]

That’s another 1% on inflation………..

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Saintsman

Well fortunately, the UK government seem to be quite flush at the moment, so they can afford to buy another one...

Good job 3 new ones were flown across the Atlantic the other week.

Good job the pilot is OK.

[Flying Palm Tree]

A couple of rolls of gaffer tape and a hammer should fix it.

[[email protected]]

RN or RAF pilot?

[RAFEngO74to09]

This is the 6th F-35 written off:
F-35A - USAF - 23 Jun 14 - engine fire
F-35B - USMC - 27 Oct 16 - in-flight fire
F-35B - USMC - 28 Sep 18 - fuel tube failure
F-35A - JASDF - 9 Apr 19 - crashed in sea
F-35A - USAF - 19 May 20 - crashed on landing - burnt out
F-35B - RAF - 17 Nov 21 - crashed in sea

[Stitchbitch]

Originally Posted by Fonsini

Happy the pilot is ok.

I wonder what stage of flight the aircraft was in, hopefully this isn’t a lift fan issue otherwise the SHAR fans will be all over it.

If it was the lift fan I wonder if the seat auto ejected the pilot? Something Harrier pilots would have found useful..

[ORAC]

RAFEng,

7th.

F-35B - USMC - 20 Sept 2020 - Collision with KC-130.

The one where the KC-130 made an emergency landing in a field near ThermL with the crew walking away….

https://news.usni.org/2020/09/29/mar...covered-safely

[Melchett01]

Wonder how deep the water is there? Wonder where the nearest Russian subs are?

[SLXOwft]

Originally Posted by 134brat

Maybe not the first loss. I could be wrong about it but l seem to remember an incident in the US with an F35 and KC130.

29 oct 2020: Collision during AAR between a VMFA-121 F-35B (piloted ejected safely - minor injuries) and a VMGR-352 KC-130J (forced landing in a field while trying to reach Thermal Airport, all crew safe).

According to the Marine Corps Times 1 October 2020

Both planes(sic) were taking part in the seven-week Weapons and Tactics Instructors course conducted out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, designed to get Marine pilots familiar with flying in support of the Marine ground element.

EDIT Duplicate but contains extra detail

[SLXOwft]

I hope it's not another manufacturing defect:
27 oct 2016: 168057 F-35B USMC 'The fire was due to a "faulty bracket, which was known as a potential hazard by officials overseeing the F-35 program, grazed electrical wiring near hydraulic lines. A fire erupted when an electrical short ignited a small hydraulic leak."'
28 sep 2018 168719 F-35B USMC “An investigation determined a manufacturing defect caused an engine fuel tube to rupture during flight, resulting in a loss of power to the engine"

[BEagle]

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the jet came down soon after take off.[...]

Mr Wallace added that operational and training flights onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth are continuing despite the incident.

Good to know that the pilot has been safely rescued. But an accident shortly after take-off and a statement that flights are continuiung nevertheless is pretty significant?

[RAFEngO74to09]

According to Defence Sec - ditched soon after take-off.

https://www.forces.net/news/hms-quee...-mediterranean