F-35 Flight Test Update 8

The F-35 Flight Test Update in the Volume 27, Number 1 issue of Code One closed with Royal Air Force Sqdn. Ldr. Jim Schofield’s first flight, which, as it turned out, was also the program’s 1,500th flight. Since then, nine new F-35 pilots have qualified, bringing the total to forty-two pilots who have now flown the Lightning II. The growing pilot population has made significant progress testing external weapons on all three F-35 variants, accomplishing first flights with external stores, refueling inflight with external stores, and flying with asymmetric weapons loads. The team has also begun night aerial refueling of F-35 at Edwards AFB, California, and night flight testing of F-35B and F-35C variants at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.
In the months since the last issue, the System Development and Demonstration, or SDD, test pilots have set new records for most flights in a month – 123 flights in March 2012 – and most test points in a month – 1,118 in June 2012. Through 30 June 2012, the F-35 test program had conducted 595 test flights in 2012 and accrued 4,830 test points.

1 February 2012: 1,500th SDD Flight

The F-35 System Development and Demonstration, or SDD, test fleet surpassed 1,500 total test flights with this takeoff of F-35B BF-2 from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Royal Air Force Sqdn. Ldr. Jim Schofield flew the 1.2-hour mission. The milestone does not include the ninety-one test flights of AA-1, the first F-35 test aircraft.

4 February 2012: 300th Vertical Landing

US Marine Corps Lt. Col. Fred Schenk executed the program’s 300th vertical landing during a 1.5-hour flight in F-35B BF-1. The flight ended with a vertical landing at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. It was BF-1 Flight 170.

16 February 2012: First F-35 Flight With External Stores

An F-35A conventional takeoff and landing aircraft at Edwards AFB, California, flew the first external weapons test mission. F-35A test aircraft AF-1 carried two AIM-9X short range air-to-air missiles on the outboard wing stations and a 2,000-pound GBU-31 guided bomb and an AIM-120 AMRAAM in each of the aircraft’s two internal weapon bays. US Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Vitt flew the one-hour mission, marking AF-1 Flight 184.

22 February 2012: First F-35B Flight With External Stores

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin flew an F-35B with external weapons stores for the first time over an Atlantic test range. The 2.2-hour flight measured flying qualities with external pylons carrying inert AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and a centerline 25mm gun pod. The flight from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, marked Flight 159 for F-35B BF-2.

28 February 2012: First Phase Of Air Start Testing Complete

US Air Force Maj. Steven Speares flew a 2.1-hour mission on F-35A AF-4 Flight 100 to complete the first phase of air start testing. The testing at Edwards AFB, California, included twenty-nine air starts for a total of forty minutes of engine out gliding time conducted during six flights.

2 March 2012: First Flight With Block 2A Software

Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson flew the first test flight with Block 2A software loaded on F-35A AF-3. Block 2A is enhanced training software that enables initial data link communication and more mature aircraft systems integration. The two-hour flight at Edwards AFB, California, marked AF-3 Flight 96.

22 March 2012: First Aerial Refueling At Night

F-35A AF-4 piloted by US Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Vitt rendezvoused with an Air Force KC-135 tanker and successfully received fuel through the F-35's receptacle for the program’s first aerial refueling at night. The 3.1-hour sortie marked Flight 103 for F-35A AF-4.

23 March 2012: Air Force Pilot Becomes Lightning 34

US Air Force test pilot Lt. Col. George Schwartz became the thirty-fourth pilot to fly the F-35 when he took off from Edwards AFB, California, for a 1.2-hour mission on F-35A AF-3 Flight 103.

29 March 2012: F-35B Weapon Pit Drop Testing Complete

The F-35 Integrated Test Force at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, completed F-35B weapons pit drop testing with the ejection of a 500-pound GBU-38 bomb from F-35B test aircraft BF-3. The ground test was the final bit of data needed to compete the first phase of testing nine different weapon combinations in the F-35’s internal weapons bays.

31 March 2012: Most Flights In A Month

The F-35 test team set several new monthly program records in March, including the most test flights (123), most test flight hours (224.1), most F-35C carrier variant flights (thirty-one), and the most flight hours on a single aircraft (35.5 on F-35A AF-2).

3 April 2012: X-35 Pilot Becomes Lightning 35

US Marine Corps Col. Arthur Tomassetti became the thirty-fifth pilot to fly the F-35 during a 1.2-hour F-35B BF-4 mission at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. It was his first Joint Strike Fighter flight since 30 July 2001 when he flew a test flight in the X-35B concept demonstrator. Today, Tomassetti is the vice commander of the 33d Fighter Wing Air Education and Training Command at Eglin AFB, Florida. The mission marked BF-4 Flight 105.

5 April 2012: First Aerial Refuel With External Stores

US Navy Lt. Christopher Tabert expanded the flight test envelope of the F-35 when he flew the first aerial refueling mission with external weapons loaded on F-35B BF-2. The 3.1-hour flight from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, included a rendezvous with a Navy KC-130R to refuel the F-35. The mission marked Flight 171.

18 April 2012: First Carrier Variant Formation Flight

Two F-35C carrier variant test aircraft launched together from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and flew in formation for the first time. F-35C CF-1 and CF-2 were piloted by US Navy Cdr. Eric Buus and US Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt Taylor, respectively. The mission tested flying qualities of the aircraft during taking off, landing, and formation flight for more than one hour to mark CF-1 Flight 134 and CF-2 Flight 88.

21 April 2012: First F-35A Aerial Refuel With External Stores

F-35A aircraft AF-4 completed the conventional takeoff and landing variant's first inflight refueling mission at Edwards AFB, California, while configured with external weapons. US Air Force Lt. Col. George Schwartz, flying an F-35A  configured with two inert AIM-9X missiles and four external pylons, refueled from an Air Force KC-10 tanker. Internally, the jet carried two GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and two AIM-120 AMRAAMs. The 2.9-hour test mission marked AF-4 Flight 109.

24 April 2012: Edwards Adds A Pilot

US Air Force Maj. Matthew Phillips flew F-35A AF-3 to become the thirty-sixth pilot to fly the F-35. The 1.5-hour pilot qualification mission at Edwards AFB, California, marked AF-3 Flight 113.

3 May 2012: First Carrier Variant Approach Handling Qualities Test

The F-35 Integrated Test Force continued preparations for F-35C carrier variant ship trials with the first handling approach qualities test at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. US Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt Taylor executed sixteen touch and goes, one wave off, and two full stop landings during the 1.4-hour mission. The test marked F-35C CF-3 Flight 53.

31 May 2012: 750th F-35B Flight

US Air Force Lt. Cdr. Eric Buus flew the F-35 test program’s 750th flight, a 1.2-hour flutter test from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The test marked F-35B BF-2 Flight 193.

1 June 2012: Edwards Adds Another Pilot

US Air Force Maj. Brent Reinhardt became the thirty-eighth pilot to fly the F-35 with a 1.6-hour mission at Edwards AFB, California. The check flight marked F-35A AF-6 Flight 81.

8 June 2012:  Lockheed Martin Pilot Qualifies In F-35

Lockheed Martin test pilot Billie Flynn accomplished his first flight at NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas. The 0.9-hour pilot qualification mission marked F-35B BF-5 Flight 34.

9 June 2012: Pax Adds A Navy Pilot

US Navy Lt. Cdr. Michael Burks joined the pilot roster at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, as the fortieth F-35 pilot. His 1.1-hour check ride marked F-35B BF-2 Flight 195.

13 June 2012: First CV Night Flight

US Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Matt Taylor took off in F-35C test aircraft CF-2 for the first night flight for the carrier variant. The flight lasted 1.2 hours and evaluated the aircraft’s night lighting system. The night test marked CF-2 Flight 109.

14 June 2012: First Flight With Asymmetric Weapons Load

F-35B test aircraft BF-2 completed the first test flight for the short takeoff and vertical landing variant with an asymmetric weapons load. US Navy Cmdr. Eric Buus flew BF-2 with an inert AIM-9X Sidewinder missile on the starboard pylon, a centerline 25mm gun pod, and a GBU-32 and AIM-120 in the starboard weapon bay. The two-hour flight included two sorties at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The test marked BF-2 Flight 197.

20 June 2012: Lockheed Martin Adds Another Pilot

Lockheed Martin test pilot Paul Hattendorf qualified with a 1.2-hour check flight as Lightning 41 – the forty-first pilot to fly the F-35. He checked out on F-35B BF-5 Flight 35 from NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas.

21 June 2012: 1,000th Test Flight Hour In 2012

The F-35 test fleet surpassed 1,000 test flight hours in 2012 with six flights at Edwards AFB, California, and at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, on the same day. F-35As AF-2, AF-6 and AF-7, F-35B BF-2, and F-35C CF-2 logged the hours on 21 June to reach the milestone.

27 June 2012: First F-35C Flight With External Weapons

The F-35C carrier variant flew for the first time with external weapons with US Navy test pilot Lt. Christopher Tabert at the controls. F-35C CF-1 flew with inert AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles on port and starboard pylons to measure flying qualities and aircraft vibrations. The mission was conducted from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and lasted 2.2 hours. It marked CF-1 Flight 142.

29 June 2012: Pax Adds Another Pilot

US Marine Corps Maj. Jon Ohman qualified as the most recent F-35 pilot at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The 1.8-hour check flight marked F-35C CF-2 Flight 115.

30 June 2012: Most Test Points In One Month

The Integrated Test Force closed out June with a new program record for the most test points accomplished in one month. The F-35 test fleet was airborne 114 times and completed 1,118 test points.

Impressive.  The program is definitely picking up speed.

Chris Costa, Steve Fisher Blooper Reel

Thanks Bill!  This is good stuff! 

Sea Lance. The original LCS. More capable, less costly.

Thanks for the info Lee!

Remember my post on towed missile barges behind an LCS type ship?  I had no idea where it came from, I just did a search for missile barges and got the pic.

Lee did recognize it and it comes from the brainiacs at the Naval Post Graduate School.

A bunch of the egg heads got together and came up with the street fighter concept and even laid out many of its design features.  Only the big Navy could bastardize it to the current LCS concept.  Don't believe me?  Check out their work below.

A 422414

Did the US just insert inself into the Falklands drama?

Thanks for the info Doug.

Check out this article from DefenseManagement.  It seems like the US has skin in the game when it comes to the Falkland Islands.

A US-based energy firm is to join the search for oil in waters around the Falkland Islands after signing an exploration deal with Falklands Oil and Gas Limited (FOGL).

Noble Energy will invest between $180m and $230m in gaining a 35 per cent share of the exploration licences to the south and east of the Falkland Islands in a move which is being described as signalling a possible shift in America's stated neutrality over the islands' sovereignty.

The licences cover an area of some 40,000 square kilometres, and the deal follows news that Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA is in talks with YPF, now 51 per cent controlled by Argentina, over exploration in waters near the islands.

Edison Investment Research's Ian McLelland told The Daily Telegraph that some companies with "direct exposure" to, or investments in, Latin America had avoided the Falklands because of their proximity to South America and the ongoing dispute between the UK and Argentina.

"The fact that a US company like Noble is entering the region is therefore of significance," he said.

Argentina is claiming sovereignty over the islands and demanding the UK engage in talks at the United Nations, something the British government has refused to do.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, when Argentina invaded the islands only to be repelled by a British task force several months later.

During the war, America was said to have adopted a neutral position, but in June it was reported that US President Ronald Reagan had cleared a US carrier to assist the UK in taking back the islands if necessary.

FOGL chief executive Tim Bushell said that the choice of an American firm had not been "politically motivated", but that Noble would have sought US State Department advice before investing in the Falklands.

Now isn't that interesting.

Besides the UK being an important ally, we're now business partners.  We have as much at stake with the possible oil revenues off the coast as the British do.

Ain't capitalism grand?

Igor Tkac's concept art of the Mars Lander Curiosity

F-22 AIM-9X supersonic launch sequence photos.

F-35A AF-20 First Flight

Lockheed Martin test pilot Al Norman flew F-35A AF-20 (USAF serial number 09-5007) on its inaugural flight on 6 August 2012 from NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas.

Production appears to be ramping up nicely.

But a quick question.  How do you fight in a fighter that has the aerodynamic performance of a Super Hornet but with the avionics suite of the most advanced fighter known to the public?  The dust up with the F-22 vs. Typhoon focused on the close in fight.  Wouldn't you have to be stupid as sin to let yourself get into that kind of fight in an F-35?  I mean seriously...launch your AIM-120D's at distance and then leave the fight.  If pursued then lob AIM-9X's over your shoulder....the fight that the Typhoon got into with the F-22 should be a thing of the past with stealth fighters.

Task Force Jaguar

USMC A-10's. The time has arrived.

I've resisted the idea.

I thought it was something that the USMC should not even consider.

I might have been wrong.

With the F/A-18D's about to go the way of the dodo bird, we need a replacement that is rugged, designed to operate over the forward edge of the battlefield, able to survive punishment, have room for the JTAC in back and maybe, if we luck out, can be modified to operate off LHA's much like the OV-10 Bronco's of the past.

One other thing is becoming apparent.  The aviation neck down leaves holes in capabilities forcing us to use aircraft in roles for which they were not designed and probably not the best answer to accomplish the mission.

So what mods would I like to see on this proposed USMC A-10?

*  AESA radar...drop the gun we won't be needing it, and replace it with a SABRE set.
*  Provide additional plumbing for extra fuel tanks.
*  Settle on a guided 2.75 guided rocket or brimstone type missile
*  Uprated engines for better performance...not talking about speed here but fuel economy.
*  The ability to carry SDB and other high performance weaponry for escort missions for the V-22.

I see these airplanes acting as forward air controllers as a primary mission but secondary missions will include ground support, v-22 escort, small boat defense, anti-piracy ops etc...the second seat makes all the difference.

Before you get started slamming the idea, consider this.  The Bronco operated off LHA's and with the A-10 being designed out of the box to operate from forward areas, it should (I'm just saying I really have no idea) be easy to make them do the same.  Besides, I'm sure there is a Test Pilot somewhere that will be willing to try.

Colombian Cub.

Another Joe Copalman special.  Check out his flickr page here.

Mechanized Amphibious Raid Training.

Photos by Cpl. Joshua Young

CTruk Avenger

via THINKDEFENCE.



On a sidenote.  Littoral Warfare is in hindsight the naval version of counter insurgency.  Blue water assets can handle any littoral issue.  We need to focus on building a survivable blue water fleet.  Green/brown water ops can be adapted to by Marine/Army/Navy units on the fly.

Sailor in pain...

Tongue in cheek guys...relax.

Lance Cpl. Zachary Chivell, from ground combat element, Security Cooperation Task Force Africa Partnership Station 2012, grapples with a sailor from Riverine Squadron 3, Detachment 2, while conducting Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training aboard the USS Fort McHenry, July 17, 2012. The MCMAP training was conducted in order to continue the Marines' required training while deployed.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Hines)

Holographic sights on pistols in SOCOM?

Its been said that a unit(s) in SOCOM are running holographic sights on their pistols.  Can anyone identify that unit?  Photos are floating all over the net showing these guys loadouts so I'd prefer some type of imagery that shows these guys either training with or in Afghanistan or some other hotspot with the sights on their weapons.  if you have that proof hit me up in the comments or in my e-mail. 

UPDATE:  The more I think about this the more I'm calling BS on it.  You have to mill the slide out in order to make the sight fit.  You have to install supressor sights on the pistol and then you have to retrain the person to fire the weapon in a new way.  The easiest part of the whole thing is the training.  the most doubtful about it is the milling of the slide and the number of rounds that are put down range.  As much as these guys shoot the chances of slides cracking HAS to increase.  Additionally I know of NO marksmanship unit (Army or Marines) that are using these guns.  I'm more convinced than ever that this is a competition/class trend and not one that's really catching on in the military.  But prove me wrong and send me the evidence.

Carrier Navy. Meet your enemy.

All photos from Air Power Australia.  Yeah I know.  But they have the best info on the web when it comes to threat weaponry.  I disagree with their conclusions but can't doubt the work and research done to compile this info.  Go here for more.

Click on the pic to expand it but what should capture your attention are the supersonic anti-ship missiles.  The Sunburn is impressive but so is the Indian/Russian Brahmos.  The spread of these missiles should cause as much alarm as nuclear weapons.  Imagine if terrorist were able to acquire one or two of these missiles and launch them at our carriers while they're going through the Suez canal? 

Notice the load out of SSN-N-27's.  I excluded Bear type aircraft from my 'carrier' sinking post but if I included them in the scenario then the numbers get much worse for the defending side.

I did an earlier post on how vulnerable our carriers are to high speed anti-ship missiles.  You have to go to Air Power Australia for a detailed overview but rest assured.

OUR CARRIERS ARE VULNERABLE.

Our close in weapon systems are for lack of a better word...a joke and a morale booster.  Even if a Rolling Air Frame Missile gets a hit on one then the damage done from the wreckage and the fuel will cripple ships systems and possibly cause injuries or deaths.

Our defenses are not up to the task of defeating some of the missiles coming online.

UPDATE:
Paralus made a comment that I just have to push up here....

 Even with directed energy weapons, a weapon systems would have to be able to quickly detect, track, target and destroy in a very short period of time (seconds) to keep from being overwhelmed by missile swarm attacks.

What if the Chinese J20 is supposed to be a Chinese version of a SU-34 Fullback? A couple hundred of J20s each launching one or two ASCMs would be scary.

Everyone and everything I've read has the J-20 as being a large fighter or an interceptor aimed at taking out AWACs.  What if its sole purpose in life is to have enough range and enough stealth to get close as is safely possible using that stealth to launch supersonic anti-ship missiles at our carriers?  A stealth airplane that has one primary mission.  Maritime strike against our carriers.  Calling Chief of Naval Operations...its time to wake up!

Israeli Air Assault Exercise.

How many guys can you slam into a UH-60?  Take it out the seats and have people sitting on the floor its got to be over 20?

FNSS Pence RWS Turret.

The FNSS Pence (its being marketed as the CLAW internationally) is a private venture that's getting quite a bit of attention.

Luckily FNSS is one of the few organizations that is responsive to all bloggers so the following information was provided to me.

CLAW is suitable for installation on a wide range of tracked and wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), either as original equipment or to enhance the firepower of older platforms. One of the advantages of the remote turrets with respect to conventional turrets is the elimination of the turret basket. This affords more space within the fighting compartment, while the remote turret requires but a minimum level of ballistic protection with the most of the relevant weight fraction being rather devoted to enhancing protection to the fighting compartment.

The prototype is armed with Rheinmetall Italy's stabilised 25 mm KBA dual-feed cannon, which is provided with 210 rounds of ready-use ammunition. The empty cartridge cases are ejected outside the turret. The KBA cannon has a maximum cyclic rate of fire of 600 rds/min and the gunner can select single-shot or burst modes of fire. While the prototype Claw is armed with the 25 mm KBA cannon, a number of other weapons could be installed in this turret, including the ATK 25 mm M242 and 30 mm Mk 44 cannon or the Mauser 30 mm MK 30-2 with its air-bursting munition capability.

A 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun (MG) is mounted coaxially with the KBA cannon on the right-hand side of the RCT and is provided with 600 rounds of ready-use ammunition. The gun is electromechanically cocked from the user interfacen within the hull.

A key feature of Claw is that ammunition for both of these weapons can be reloaded from within the platform under full armour protection.

Turret traverse is all-electric through 360 degrees, with weapon elevation from -10 degrees to +50 degrees.

The electro-optics (EO) and fire-control system (FCS) have been developed by Aselsan and are integrated into the left side of the forward part of the turret.

A meteorological sensor is mounted on the turret roof towards the rear and feeds information to the FCS, which has a full ballistic computation capability.

The dual-axis stabilised EO package includes a thermal camera with wide and narrow fields of view, a day camera and a laser rangefinder. This enables the platform to engage targets in most weather conditions with a high first-round hit probability.

The autocannon is electronically slaved to the sight and an automatic target tracker is fitted as standard. An independent commander's sight on the roof to provide a hunter/killer capability is offered as an option.

The weapons are laid onto the target by the gunner from within the hull of the platform using a flat-panel display with controllers for left and right hand. This display could also be used to provide images from cameras mounted around the vehicle as well as information from a battle management system.

So any speculation that this was a cooperative build with Rheinmetall was incorrect.

This is a privately funded project and it appears to be one of the better designs out there.  I can't wait to see video of it firing but if looks indicate effectiveness then this is a winner.

Notification. A Marine Mom's quest.

Gunny Kenefick reading Sgt Myers' award at a ceremony in Afghanistan days before the fateful battle of Ganjgal that claimed his life.

I've been communicating with Gynny Kenefick's mom, Susan Price over the course of a few days mostly by e-mail.


No slam on my readers.  Love you guys even when you disagree with me.  But let's be honest.  This blog doesn't get the type of attention or have the horsepower to properly tell the story.  Because of that, I've reached out to another blogger that I trust and has the smarts to tell me what to do to make this story get the type of reach necessary to make a difference.


I've been an observer and critic of the military in general and the Marine Corps in particular when necessary.  I don't know how to advocate for a worthy cause.  I believe getting to the bottom of that cluster fuck known as the battle of Ganjgal is such a cause.

This post services as a notification and as a call to arms.  Pretty soon (when I get guidance from my higher up) I'll be issuing the warning order.  Make sure your shit is packed right, that you're traveling light and have enough ammo for the fight.  This Marine Mom deserves it.

HMH-362: What We Do

Nicely done.

I wish some of the Infantry Battalions were able to do these types of vids.  I know they're running ranges and when not deploying down range they're deploying to other training areas but just pull a Gunny or Capt or BN Co out of the office to give a quick rundown like HMH-362 did would be appreciated.

Could a carrier battle group withstand a Chinese alpha strike?

via Air Power Australia.

Quick question.  Consider it a follow up to the "Barge" post.

If the Chinese decided to go after a US carrier how would they do it?  From this ground guys perspective they would put 100 SU-27's in the air loaded with KH-35's.  They would split the force and attack from all four directions on the compass and with each SU-27 carrying 4 of these missiles, they would be aiming for a time on target attack with 400 missiles in the air.

Now remember I'm being conservative.  That doesn't include Badger/Xian H-6K's, subs or anti-ship ballistic missiles.  It doesn't include J-10's and it doesn't include any Chinese stealth aircraft.

My point is this.  If the fleet commander is being conservative and only launches two missiles in defense against every inbound vampire then he's still going to be in a hurt locker.

More simply put.

We need more anti-missile missiles than we currently carry aboard ship.

PS.  Also note that the KH-35 is probably one of the easier missiles to kill.  It flies at high subsonic speed.  The number of attackers was kept relatively small.  You can bet body parts that with over 5000 Sailors aboard a carrier, with basically a small air force aboard each carrier and with the pride of a nation floating on each carrier that it will be a MAXIMUM effort target.  I just don't think that our current defense will be able to stand up to a concerted effort to kill one.  Oh and if you want this to go from being a bad dream to being an outright nightmare,  horrific enough to keep the Chief of Naval Operations up at night then think about the same scenario with the real beast of the Sukhoi design bureau...the SU-34.  Replace the SU-27's with SU-34's and even as jingoistic as I am, I'd start laying bets on the Chinese getting the kill.

And yeah.  More than the PAK-50, more than the SU-27/30/33 the SU-34 sends chills my way.  It carries a payload that would make the wings on an F-15E droop, has legs that almost challenge a B-1 and has the speed to outrun almost any plane in our inventory.  Plus its a deep striker.  The SU-34 is one bad mother.