CWJones411
IRR
Here are some more pictures of the ceremony:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedmartin/sets/72157621875816736/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedmartin/sets/72157621875816736/
Pill_Hacker said:coulda/shoulda had a better pic of the hook
Concur. And I'm sorry, but that thing looks ridiculous.
is there something extra special, like a tractor beam or something, that i'm missing about the hook?
Wikipedia said:The F-35C carrier variant will have a larger, folding wing and larger control surfaces for improved low-speed control, and stronger landing gear for the stresses of carrier landings. The larger wing area allows for decreased landing speed, increased range and payload, with twice the range on internal fuel compared with the F/A-18C Hornet, achieving much the same goal as the heavier F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
The United States Navy will be the sole user for the carrier variant. It intends to buy 480 F-35Cs to replace the F/A-18A, B, C, and D Hornets. The F-35C will also serve as a stealthier complement to the Super Hornet.[154] On 27 June 2007, the carrier variant completed its Air System Critical Design Review (CDR). This allows the first two functional prototype F-35C units to be produced.[155] The C variant is expected to be available beginning in 2015.[156]
It looks to be the lighting that is making it blue and that the aircraft still has the green 'primer', not a finished paint job.
That's not primer; it's a corrosion protective coating. They will strip that green off before they prime and paint.Yeah, I was just kidding. But on a serious note, why are aircraft rolled out, with all the pomp and circumstance, in primer? They don't do that for cars, do they?
Concur. And I'm sorry, but that thing looks ridiculous.