Bruce (thanks much!...I would have missed this) sent me this article by Loren Thompson confirming my suspicions about the F-35 program.
The tide has turned (I really should have known considering the response to a flight that returned to base successfully under back up power) and the F-35 is zipping through its flight test program. With this new found momentum, expect attacks on the JSF program to intensify. Remember, for some of the critics this is a do or die proposition.F-35 Testing Well Ahead Of Schedule For 2011
Date:Monday, March 28, 2011Flight tests of the tri-service F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are running well ahead of the plan for 2011, with 181 flights completed as of March 25 against a plan of 133. In addition, the productivity of each flight test is increasing, with an average of 7.7 unique test points achieved per flight. The combination of additional test flights above plan and greater-than-expected productivity per flight has enabled the overall test program to complete 1,310 test points -- far above the number of 899 planned for this stage in the testing cycle. All three variants of the F-35 are being tested, with the average aircraft performing six flights per month.The test program might have been dealt a serious setback on March 9 when a conventional takeoff variant was forced to make an emergency landing due to a dual generator failure. Generators provide the electricity that starts the fighter's engine and powers flight controls. However, the cause of the failure was quickly traced to faulty maintenance procedures which have now been corrected, and the test fleet has returned to service. These kinds of anomalies are commonplace in tests of new aircraft.Lockheed Martin officials are confident they can resolve problems identified in testing with several parts of the short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the F-35 being developed for the Marine Corps. Among the fixes required are a strengthening of the doors above the mid-fuselage lift-fan, reinforcement of a bulkhead, and resolution of excessive heat deposition at one point near the engine exhaust. Defense secretary Robert Gates recently put the Marine variant on a two-year probationary period to make the necessary fixes, while stating the Air Force and Navy variants were progressing well.The conventional-takeoff Air Force version will be the most heavily produced F-35, comprising over 70 percent of the domestic production run and almost all of the export sales. The Air Force plans to buy 1,763 conventional-takeoff F-35s, while the Navy and Marine Corps collectively will buy 680 of their two variants. Overseas allies are expected to buy thousands of the planes over the next three decades as they replace aging Cold War fighters and seek a low-cost solution to their requirement for a versatile and survivable tactical aircraft.Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D.
i wonder if the A or C versions IOC's might be moved up to reduce the strain on the 15s and 16s?
ReplyDeleteto be honest that's the dirty little secret of this whole drama. with production being delayed a couple of years we're in a position to allow countries (like the US) to get on a bit of a firmer footing financially before we start to replace our legacy aircraft.
ReplyDeletei personally hope they keep the current schedule. we'll have a more defense friendly president and hopefully we'll get the full order...speaking more about the USAF than the Navy/Marines...the sea service will get the full order without a doubt.
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ReplyDeleteas I posted earlier I've done time on a flight line. What exactly was the faulty maintenance? Correct me if I'm wrong and someone knows more then I, don't they use a check list when doing their maintenance? And aren't all of those check lists being double checked? What I'm getting at is it's always easy to blame faulty maintenance to cover someones ass, and if the generator's fail on one bird then would they not fail on all of them cause the procedures for all the testing is the same, no?
ReplyDelete@ Phil
ReplyDeleteF35's parts have ongoing reliability issues.
So far the short-term solution has been replace-when-it-breaks.
^-----Looks like on of Bill's classy sycophants is back.
ReplyDelete^---You do realize you come off looking about twelve right?
ReplyDeleteFlight testing is one thing, software development for it is a whole other story, Solomon, and you know it.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't do much good to be ahead on flight testing, but behind on software development.
you're cheering for a loss, i think its going to win.
ReplyDeletesoftware development will pick up the pace in just a short time. mark my words. extra funds have been added to that portion of the budget.
you're clutching at straws my friend.
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ReplyDeleteHey 'Anonymous' @ Tuesday, March 29, 2011 7:42:00 AM
ReplyDeleteRE: so-called "Ten Flaws list".
It's at best a filler piece. From my place on the 19th: "I count at most 5 ‘flaws’ (ranging from minor to significant and all fixable), 3 ‘Risks’ and 2 (at least) development/maturation challenges."
Solomon, I rarely get comments because I don't allow anonymous drive-bys. They remind me of a quote attributed to Moshe Dyan concerning annexation of the West Bank: "That's like getting cancer so you can have the extra cells". Something to think about.
hey i get ya, but on every other subject but the F-35 it allows for a free flowing conversation.
ReplyDeleteGoon and his little band of thugs send idiots over here to spout nonsense but its cool, doesn't bother me a bit and i erase it as soon as i get a chance.
i see i missed one so i'll take care of that one too.