First USMC F-35B STOVL Flight

[bstratt]

As I haven't had time to hang around much, I'm not sure if this has been posted before. If so, my apologies. If not, ignore the silly soundtrack.

 

[Trapper John]

As I haven't had time to hang around much, I'm not sure if this has been posted before. If so, my apologies. If not, ignore the silly soundtrack.

Very cool!

But, is it for real, or a sophisticated animation? The transition from the vertical takeoff to forward flight looked a little fishy, so did the gear retraction speed...


Trapper John

 

[Flyfishingpilot]

Very cool!

But, is it for real, or a sophisticated animation?

Doesn't look real to me... neat concept though.

 

[steingar]

If I recall correctly, by the time they get done putting in the ducted fan for the VTOL there is neither room nor power to lift bombs.

 

[Trapper John]

If I recall correctly, by the time they get done putting in the ducted fan for the VTOL there is neither room nor power to lift bombs.

Hope that's not the case...

What exactly is the difference between VTOL (Harrier) and STOVL (F-35)? It seems that STOVL implies the need for some kind of running start to get off the ground?


Trapper John

 

[Skip Miller]

What exactly is the difference between VTOL (Harrier) and STOVL (F-35)? It seems that STOVL implies the need for some kind of running start to get off the ground?

I believe that is true at max gross. Once they burn the fuel and drop the ordnance, they can land vertically.

Please someone correct me if I am wrong.

-Skip

 

[flyersfan31]

Hope that's not the case...

What exactly is the difference between VTOL (Harrier) and STOVL (F-35)? It seems that STOVL implies the need for some kind of running start to get off the ground?


Trapper John

Precisely. And it's because of that weight issue mentioned above.

The other difference is tens upon tens of millions of dollars in cost.

 

[Anthony]

Now I know what I want for Christmas!

 

[steingar]

The F35B uses a ducted fan driven by the engine in addition to redirected jet thrust. The system is complex, heavy, expensive, and quite imaginative. The Harrier redirects jet thrust. The problem with that arrangement, as I understand it, is that the exhaust holding the jet up can find its way back into the engine and cause it to fail. Harriers have always been quite dangerous to operate in this fashion as a result.

 

[flyersfan31]

The F35B uses a ducted fan driven by the engine in addition to redirected jet thrust. The system is complex, heavy, expensive, and quite imaginative. The Harrier redirects jet thrust. The problem with that arrangement, as I understand it, is that the exhaust holding the jet up can find its way back into the engine and cause it to fail. Harriers have always been quite dangerous to operate in this fashion as a result.

I guess you get what you pay for.

 

[Anthony]

The F35B uses a ducted fan driven by the engine in addition to redirected jet thrust. The system is complex, heavy, expensive, and quite imaginative.

I guess that is what we will have to live with until we develop that anti-gravity technology.

 

[n20junkie]

totally 100 percent fake.

 

[steingar]

Why we need VTOL is well beyond me. We have these giant (and very expensive) aircraft carriers so we can have air superiority wherever we want. What role VTOL has in this is not entirely clear.

 

[Anthony]

Why we need VTOL is well beyond me. We have these giant (and very expensive) aircraft carriers so we can have air superiority wherever we want. What role VTOL has in this is not entirely clear.

The Marines like to have them for basing in forward locations for the ground attack role. They can refuel and rearm in a farmer's field as opposed to going all the way back to a carrier. Do they really need them? Dunno.

 

[steingar]

Of course, the average farmer is going to have 1000s of gallons of Jet A just sitting waiting for the jet to come by. None have forward mounted cannon, so their ground attack abilities are to some degree limited relative to any of the other Navy fighters. Again, I see little utility for this, and none worth the price tag to get the F35B VTOL. The things can cruise supersonic, so having to go to a carrier should not be prohibitive.

 

[flyersfan31]

Of course, the average farmer is going to have 1000s of gallons of Jet A just sitting waiting for the jet to come by. None have forward mounted cannon, so their ground attack abilities are to some degree limited relative to any of the other Navy fighters. Again, I see little utility for this, and none worth the price tag to get the F35B VTOL. The things can cruise supersonic, so having to go to a carrier should not be prohibitive.

Jeez, I bet you tell all the kids in your neighborhood that Santa isn't real. What a party pooper!

 

[TangoWhiskey]

And now, two years later, it has completed sea trials on the USS Wasp. Love the rainbow shot! Plane looks like it came straight out of a Transformers movie.

 

[Anthony]

Jeez, I bet you tell all the kids in your neighborhood that Santa isn't real. What a party pooper!

Yeah, we didn't need the Garand rifle, bolt actions were fine. And how about those jet engines? Terrible waste of fuel when piston power is available.