The F-35 Flight Test update in the Volume 26, Number 3 issue closed with carrier variant test aircraft CF-2 being flown to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, for jet blast deflector ground testing on 25 June 2011. These tests concluded 13 August 2001 shortly after the aircraft achieved another critical first—the program’s first catapult launch 27 July 2011, also at Lakehurst.
At the same time, all requirements for the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant to begin ship suitability testing were completed. These requirements included qualifying four pilots, completing electromagnetic testing, and field carrier landing practice. With all the prerequisites complete, Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Fred Schenk made history with the first vertical landing at sea in F-35B BF-2 aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) on 3 October 2011.
BF-2’s flight to the ship brought the 2011 flight total to more than 700, flight hours to more than 1,100, and the vertical landing count beyond 180. By the end of September, F-35B pilots had flown more than 300 short takeoffs in 2011 alone. In the F-35C, pilots had accomplished nearly twenty-five catapult launch tests at Lakehurst. At Edwards AFB, California, the required conventional takeoff and landing maturity flights were completed by the end of August. A total of twenty-seven pilots have flown the F-35. Twenty-one pilots are still flying the aircraft.
Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Smith, director of operations for the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida, completed his first flight in F-35A test aircraft AF-4 from Edwards AFB, California. Smith is the first Air Force Air Education and Training Command F-35 instructor pilot and the twenty-fifth pilot overall to fly the F-35. His 1.5-hour pilot familiarization mission was Flight 41 for AF-4.
Air Force Lt. Col. Leonard Kearl flew the 1,000th F-35 System Development and Demonstration, or SDD, flight test in F-35A AF-2 from Edwards AFB, California. The one-hour flight was the 132nd in AF-2.
The twenty-sixth pilot to fly the F-35, Air Force Lt. Col. Dwayne Opella, flew his first F-35 mission in F-35A AF-4. The 1.8-hour flight from Edwards AFB, California, was Flight 44 for AF-4.
Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Smith flew the F-35 program’s first maturity flight in F-35A AF-7 at Edwards AFB, California, accomplishing all test goals without control room assistance. Maturity flights tested Block 1A software that will be used for initial pilot training at Eglin AFB, Florida. The flight, which lasted 1.7 hours, was Flight 23 for AF-7.
F-35C CF-2 returned to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, from Joint Base McGuire- Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, following successful completion of single aircraft jet blast deflector ground testing. Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin was at the controls for the 0.6-hour mission, Flight 22 for CF-2.
F-35As AF-6 and AF-7 were flown in the first formation flight of F-35 maturity testing out of Edwards AFB, California. Air Force Lt. Col. Dwayne Opella and Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson flew the two-hour formation flight, Flight 18 for AF-6 and Flight 27 for AF-7.
Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew the fifth F-35B, BF-5, to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, from NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas, on a 3.5-hour ferry flight, being refueled by a KC-130 tanker crew. BF-5 was the final flight test aircraft delivery in 2011. The ferry mission was Flight 11 for BF-5.
F-35A AF-2 became the first F-35 to land on a wet runway at Edwards AFB, California, with Lockheed Martin test pilot Jeff Knowles at the controls. The 0.9-hour mission was Flight 135 for AF-2.
On the 500th F-35 flight of 2011, F-35A AF-3 was flown for 2.5 hours out of Edwards AFB, California, Flight 43 for AF-3. Lockheed Martin test pilot Jeff Knowles flew the test mission.
F-35B BF-1 landed vertically for the 100th time with Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt Kelly at the controls. The 0.7-hour flight out of NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, was Flight 142 for BF-1.
F-35C CF-3 departed NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and arrived at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, for carrier variant catapult launch testing. Navy test pilot Lt. Chris Tabert flew the 1.0-hour ferry flight, Flight 7 for CF-3.
F-35C launched from a catapult for the first time with Navy test pilot Lt. Chris Tabert at the controls. F-35C CF-3 launched from a steam catapult and flew a 0.2-hour flight before returning to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The historic mission was Flight 8 for CF-3.
The F-35 System Development and Demonstration program recorded 100 flights in July, the most flights achieved in one month to date for the F-35 fleet. F-35A AF-7 was flown on nineteen of those flights, the most achieved for an individual F-35 test aircraft in a single month.
F-35C CF-1 was flown to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, for jet blast deflector tests with two aircraft. Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin flew the 0.7-hour ferry mission, Flight 79 for CF-1.
With a final side-by-side, two-ship test, F-35C CF-1 completed jet blast deflector testing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. These tests provided data for the Navy to ensure the F-35C is aircraft carrier compatible.
F-35C CF-1 returned to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, from Joint Base McGuire- Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, to avoid Hurricane Irene. CF-1 was at Lakehurst for jet blast deflector testing. The 0.7-hour ferry flight, piloted by Navy Lt. Cdr. Eric Buus, was Flight 80 for CF-1.
F-35C CF-3 was flown to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, to avoid Hurricane Irene. The flight occurred after several weeks of catapult launch testing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Matt Taylor flew the 0.8-hour ferry flight, Flight 12 for CF-3.
All personnel and aircraft were safe after Hurricane Irene hit NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Operations halted 26 August as the F-35 Integrated Test Force secured the jets and support equipment in hangars on base. Flights resumed at Pax on 29 August 2011.
F-35C ground article CG-1 completed static testing at the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas. With this achievement, the F-35 program accomplished its static structural testing milestone for 2011.
Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Vitt became the twenty-seventh pilot to fly the F-35 with his 1.7-hour flight in F-35A AF-2 from Edwards AFB, California. The pilot familiarization mission was Flight 146 for AF-2.
F-35B BF-1 completed the program’s 150th vertical landing during its second sortie of the day at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. BAE test pilot Peter Wilson was at the controls for the 1.2-hour flight, which was Flight 152 for BF-1.
F-35A AF-7 Flight 49 involved a 1.8-hour maturity flight mission. Marine Corps Maj. Joseph Bachmann was at the controls for this last conventional takeoff and landing maturity flight test of Block 1A software.
F-35C CF-3 was ferried from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, to resume catapult launch testing. Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin flew the 0.6-hour ferry, Flight 14 for CF-3.
Navy Lt. Cdr. Eric Buus was at the controls of F-35C CF-3 for the F-35C carrier variant’s 100th flight in 2011. The 0.4-hour flight at Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, New Jersey, included three sorties for catapult launch tests. The mission was Flight 17 for CF-3.
The F-35 Integrated Test Force flew ten test flights in one day, matching the program’s highest one-day total, set in May 2011. The record day included five F-35A CTOL flights, three F-35B STOVL flights—including six vertical landings—and two F-35C CV flights.
F-35B BF-2 completed Naval Electromagnetic Radiation Facility, or NERF, ground testing at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, achieving another step toward landing and takeoff trials aboard an amphibious assault ship. This testing simulated the electromagnetic environment on the ship to ensure the aircraft could operate successfully in a ship environment. The other F-35B ship suitability test aircraft, BF-4, completed the same testing in July.
Three short takeoff/vertical landing circuits on one fuel load were accomplished for the first time. BAE test pilot Peter Wilson flew the 0.4-hour mission in BF-3 for field carrier landing practice, or FCLP, with USS Wasp (LHD-1) personnel at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, to prepare for ship suitability testing. It was Flight 141 in BF-3.
Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Matt Taylor flew the first F-35C steam ingestion catapult launch at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, in test aircraft CF-3. The mission was Flight 22 for CF-3.
Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin flew the 700th System Development and Demonstration flight of 2011 in F-35B BF-5 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The 1.2-hour flight, Flight 16 for BF-5, was the jet’s first with Block 1 software.
Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Fred Schenk made Naval Aviation history when he touched down on the deck of USS Wasp (LHD-1) at 3:12 pm in F-35B BF-2. The landing is the program’s first vertical landing at sea. Lt. Col. Schenk flew the 0.9-hour ferry flight from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, to the Wasp near Wallops Island, Virginia. The mission was Flight 119 and the twenty-third vertical landing for BF-2.
For more information on the F-35 program, see F35.com.
