Gizmo Lovers Blog » Naval Air Systems Command

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Video Round Up

MegaZone — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:38:12 +0000

Lockheed Martin appears to have started a new F-35 related video series called “Test Pilot Tuesdays” with the posting of the first video this week. They’re inviting questions from viewers for future episodes at www.f35.com/testpilottuesday. Here’s the first video:

Also in F-35 related video, the Naval Air Systems Command released this one on the F-35B Manned Flight Simulator:

And their May 2012 edition of NAVAIR Airwaves features a segment on the F-35 starting at the 1:37 mark:

While I’m posting Lockheed Martin related videos, here’s a non-F-35 video – the LCS3 Fort Worth strutting her stuff:

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Continues Flight Testing

MegaZone — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:53:19 +0000

I just posted a round up of F-35 videos on Wednesday, but they just keep coming. Lockheed Martin has posted two more videos featuring the F-35′s flight testing. The first video is on airstart testing. That involves shutting down the engine in flight, turning the F-35 into a rather inefficient glider, and then restarting the engine. Being able to reliably restart the engine is critical, as heavy maneuvering could potentially disrupt airflow into the engine, causing a flame out. Clearing airstart testing is a requirement before conducting high angle of attack, or high-alpha, flight.

They’d also flown the F-35A with external stores, following up on the early flight of the F-35B with external stores that I posted previously:

And the Naval Air Systems Command posted a very brief video of the first steam catapult launch of the F-35C at NAS Patuxent River last November 4th:

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Video Round Up

MegaZone — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:39:52 +0000

Over the past month or so Lockheed Martin has released a number of videos highlighting progress on the F-35 Lightning II program. This first video is a look back at the accomplishments made in 2011:

They were pitching the F-35 to potential customers at the Singapore Airshow in February:

They made the first flights of the F-35B with external stores, including external stores pylons, inert AIM-9X Sidewinder middles, and a centerline 25mm gun pod. And before you comment, yes, carrying external stores destroys stealth. The F-35, and F-22, can operate with internal stores only for ‘first day of the war’, all-up stealth. But once air defenses have been suppressed, or in uncontested environments, carrying stores externally allows the aircraft to carry more ordinance to accomplish more on a given mission. They’re also used for external tanks for ferry flights, etc.

And the Marines celebrated the arrival of the F-35B, and the USAF the first flight of the F-35A, at Eglin AFB in Florida:

The US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command also released their own 2011 Year In Review video:

As well as one commemorating the first flight of an F-35C for the UK:

And, just because, here’s a bonus video of F-16s from the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard out of Lackland AFB in San Antonio: