iscover
Warning: Undefined array key "image-size-770" in /data/www/upgrade/australianaviation.com.au/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/australianaviation/functions.php on line 1310
Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in /data/www/upgrade/australianaviation.com.au/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/australianaviation/functions.php on line 1310
The first F-35B development aircraft, BF-1, arrived at NAS Patuxent River near Washington DC on November 15 from Fort Worth to prepare for its vertical flight test program.
The aircraft had been delayed in Fort Worth for several months after completing its hover pit testing in April. The tests will comprise a ‘step down’ approach to vertical flight where the aircraft will takeoff conventionally and be gradually slowed down over a series of flights until it achieves a hover and vertical landing.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
During its deployment to Pax River, BF-1 will also become the first of the four F-35s currently flying to be supported by Lockheed Martin’s Autonomic Logistics Information Systems (ALIS), a program designed to monitor and support the health of all US and customer F-35s worldwide when in service.
Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has signed a US$171m (A$183m) contract with Pratt & Whitney to supply liftsystems for nine Lot Three F-35B STOVL low rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft. This order is the second production order for the system for Rolls-Royce as part of the JSF development program, and will see the company provide the liftfan, roll-control roll posts, and the three-bearing swivel module to go with the main P&W F135 engine.
