F-35c at Eglin

[Grizzly]

I noticed VFA-101 are getting their first F-35c's this week. They estimate training will begin sometime in August. Assuming everything stays on schedule, where do new airframes get their first group of pilots from. I would imagines they wouldn't start taking guys from the vts until they have some sort of syllabus.

 

[ea6bflyr]

DoD's newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, taxis across the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14.
U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.
Photo source: US Air Force

The Navy welcomed its first 5th generation F-35C production aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (EAFB) on Saturday. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered 69 F-35s to the Department of Defense, 26 of which are located at EAFB.
Photo Credit: Todd R. McQueen, Lockheed Martin
Photo source: Lockheed Martin

Story & more pics here.

 

[Brett327]

Didn't know that the LRIP had produced so many airframes. Take that, Russia/China "5th generation aircraft programs."

 

[sodajones]

I know it's exaggerated by the folded wings, but I didn't realize how short the wing span is on this fat pig.

Maybe it's just the angle of the pic.

 

[707guy]

I think that is the first time I've seen a pic with the wings folded.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

I know it's exaggerated by the folded wings, but I didn't realize how short the wing span is on this fat pig.

Maybe it's just the angle of the pic.

You mean 43ft vs 44ft for a super hornet?

 

[armada1651]

Anyone know how they fixed the tailhook issue with the C? I think I heard something about a hook point redesign but I'm not 100% clear on how that would fix the problem.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Anyone know how they fixed the tailhook issue with the C? I think I heard something about a hook point redesign but I'm not 100% clear on how that would fix the problem.

They removed it, plated it in gold, and it works now

 

[armada1651]

Oh that makes more sense.

 

[JollyGood]

They removed it, plated it in gold, and it works now

I heard they amended the contract to include DeBeers and several billion more dollars. The well known diamond corporation will be handling the production of the new, improved and blinged out tailhook.

 

[Navy Ship]

How come they have folded wings as opposed to variable swept wings? If you are going to put movable parts on the wing to make it fold, then why not put the movable part to make the wings sweep back? This would serve a storage and performance purpose, wouldn't it?

 

[Renegade One]

How come they have folded wings as opposed to variable swept wings? If you are going to put movable parts on the wing to make it fold, then why not put the movable part to make the wings sweep back? This would serve a storage and performance purpose, wouldn't it?

Relax…have another beer.

 

[helolumpy]

How come they have folded wings as opposed to variable swept wings? If you are going to put movable parts on the wing to make it fold, then why not put the movable part to make the wings sweep back? This would serve a storage and performance purpose, wouldn't it?

I'll defer to the guys who actually design aircraft, but if sweeping the wings were better or easier, then we'd have all our aircraft with that system.

Since all but 1 does folded wings, I'd bet that is the better method.

 

[bunk22]

How come they have folded wings as opposed to variable swept wings? If you are going to put movable parts on the wing to make it fold, then why not put the movable part to make the wings sweep back? This would serve a storage and performance purpose, wouldn't it?

Uh what? Lay off the sauce!!

 

[magnetfreezer]

How come they have folded wings as opposed to variable swept wings? If you are going to put movable parts on the wing to make it fold, then why not put the movable part to make the wings sweep back? This would serve a storage and performance purpose, wouldn't it?

Variable wings increase the complexity of CG management and flight control/stability systems, as well as pilot workload (unless you add yet another system to automatically sweep wings). Plus, it's another major system that can break (asymmetric wing sweep=bad) and requires sustainment/maintenance.

This is what can happen if you have to land with wings stuck full aft: