F-35B Lightning II 40 knt Approach and Landing

Test pilot Graham Tomlinson guides the supersonic F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter in a 40-knot (46 mph) flight above Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., then descends for a 75-knot (86 mph) slow landing. The flight on Wednesday, March 10, was one of the last missions before the aircraft's first vertical landing. The F-35B features a shaft-driven lift fan propulsion system that produces more than 41,000 pounds of vertical thrust, enabling airspeeds from zero to Mach 1.6. F-35B customers include the U.S. Marine Corps, the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian Air Force and Navy.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• F-35
• F-35B
• Lightning II
• Lockhed
• Lockheed
• Martin
• stealth
• fighter
• aircraft

[foden34ke12]

@Tank611 they did! look on there official site. This is not the first hover by a long shot this is replication of a carrier style landing.

[foden34ke12]

Firstly what a beautiful aircraft and so amazing in its abilities. Can't wait to see these in action and hopefully get a chance to work on these in the future.

People asking about the 3 computers this is called a 'fail operational' system. Basically one computer runs the show, one follows its every move and the answers are compared. If they get different answers the third is used to shutdown the faulty system by majority. Its not classified system and is in use on most airliners for autoland.

[lkeve]

Sexy!

[marick626]

@teltelamont

I agree, USA fucking kicks ass. But keep in mind that Britain developed the first VTOL aircraft so I wouldn't call them Eurotrash. On the other hand, I agree about Russia. Frankly, Russia wouldn't stand a chance with the U.S. Military.

[marick626]

@pensive69

I am sure nobody here can accurately answer that since it is obviously classified information, but I would imagine those 3 computers are there for redundancy. As far as all of them failing I doubt it could maintain vertical flight. It is flown using fly by wire, which means it is all computer driven. Without the computers the thing becomes a flying brick and would be close to impossible to land. The pilot would be forced to eject.

[marick626]

@moonamigo

That is why it has an ejection seat. There are drawbacks to a vstol jet and that is one of them. Although keep in mind, the F-35 engine is allot more reliable than a most helicopter engines.

[moonamigo]

I'd like to see it autorotate upon engine failure...

[Tank611]

I have a request for Lockheed Martin. When the F-35B makes it's first vertical landing how about having more than one video camera on hand. How about showing the first vertical landing from multiple camera angles. Front,back,side.

[pensive69]

in one of these F35 videos, the test pilot mentions that there are 3 CPUs/computer systems helping him man the aircraft.

my question;

is it possible to land if these aren't in operation or if 1 is out of action?

i guess i'd want a manual failsafe to set down....

[ulissescrespo]

uuuuaaaallllll the best