F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Lightning Strikes

From http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/photos/f-35-joint-strike-fighter-lightning-strikes/ This gallery covers all three variants of the F-35 Lightning !oint "trike Fighter and shows the latest #.". warplane in vario$s phases of its testing as it gets ready to %ecome operational. The F-35&' -(' and -) will give the &ir Force' *arine )orps' and +avy $ni,$e capa%ilities that will ens$re contin$ed dominance of %attlefield airspace for years to come. &fter a long' sometimes diffic$lt period of development to prod$ce three variants of one aircraft to serve different needs in three different services' the flight testing program has accelerated. &ccording to Lockheed *artin' in -.//' as of !$ly -0: 1 F-35& conventional take off and landing 2)T3L4 jets have flown -5. times. 1 F-35( short take off/ vertical landing 2"T35L4 aircraft have completed /67 flights. 1 F-35) carrier variant 2)54 jets have flown 6/ times. 1 From the start of flight testing in 8ecem%er -..0 thro$gh !$ly -5' -.//' F-35s flew /'.05 times' incl$ding the prod$ction-model flights and &&-/' the original flight test aircraft. 9erhaps lightning has str$ck after all for the program and s$ccesses will only contin$e to %$ild in the f$t$re.

The Shape of Things to Come F-35& aircraft &F-7 on its ferry flight to :dwards &F(. The $ni,$e characteristics of stealth shaping can %e seen well in this photo' partic$larly aro$nd the nose and inlets. The F-35 !oint "trike Fighter program is prod$cing three different variant aircraft for three different services. Lockheed *artin photo %y *att "hort

Everything Open, Everything Down F-35( aircraft (F-/ with landing gear and three-position no;;le down and all doors open. The roll-post doors are open o$t%oard of the main gear doors. The F-35( will add stealthy' s$personic' fifth-generation capa%ilities to the proven "T35L advantages the *arine )orps has enjoyed with its <arriers. Lockheed *artin photo %y "enior Flight Test 9hotographer 9haedra Loftis

Looking Good =hile each of the F-35 variants has $ni,$e feat$res' the increased wing and tail planform area of the F-35) is easily recogni;a%le when compared with the other two aircraft. Lockheed *artin photo 8avid 8rais

Wave of the Future &n F-35& and F---& in formation. The F-35 and F--- are the only two fifth-generation aircraft in prod$ction today. Lockheed *artin photo %y 8arin >$ssell

F !"# E$ement & pair of F-35(s fly in formation d$ring testing at 9at$?ent >iver +&"' *d. The "T35L ( model has a somewhat h$mp%acked shape seen from some angles d$e to the LiftFan and its main inlet door' sometimes called the @A57 )hevy hood'@ located j$st %ehind the cockpit. Lockheed *artin photo %y &ndy =olfe

Carrier #ird The first flight of F-35) aircraft )F-- on &pril -B' -.//' flown %y Lockheed *artin pilot (ill @Cigs@ Cigliotti. =hile the F-35) has to carry the e?tra weight of a %eefed-$p str$ct$re and a tailhook as well as significantly larger wings and empennage for the carrier landing environment' it also can carry more f$el' giving it the longest range of all the !"F variants. Lockheed *artin photo %y Li; Das;ynski

What %STO& 'eans & spectac$lar photo of F-35( (F-/ making a short takeoff 2"T34 on its ///th flight' piloted %y 8avid @8oc@ +elson. Lockheed *artin photo %y &ndy =olfe

F !"( )ea*hes +ome 838As first F-35 Lightning !oint "trike Fighter 2!"F4 soars past the 33rd Fighter =ing flightline with two F-/0 Fighting Falcon chase aircraft %efore landing at its new home at :glin &ir Force (ase' Fla.' !$ly /E' -.//. ts pilot' Lt. )ol. :ric "mith' of the 56th Fighter ",$adron' was the first &ir Force ,$alified !"F pilot. #.". &ir Force photo %y "taff "gt. !oely "antiago

The #usiness End The %$siness end of an F-35) sitting on the catap$lt at Lakeh$rst' +.!. +ote the large canopy' the clear panes of the :lectro 3ptical Targeting "ystem 2:3T"4 %elow the nose' and the small si;e of the radome. ThatAs a lot of radar packed into a small space. Lockheed *artin photo %y "enior Flight Test 9hotographer &ndy =olfe

F$ight$ine Crowd "i? of the F-35s $ndergoing flight test at :dwards &F(' )alif.: &F-/' &F--' &F-3' &F-E' &F-0 and &F-7. Lockheed *artin photo %y 9a$l =eatherman

,ust a Test F-35( airframe (F-E shown d$ring flight /E. "T35L capa%ility allows the F-35( to go places and do things normal aircraft cannot. Lockheed *artin photo %y Li; Coettee

%-nto the Wi$d #$ue .onder& The F-35 Lightning known as &F-7 arrives at :dwards &ir Force (ase' )alif.' on *ay 0' -.// to %egin its flight testing program. Flown %y *aj. "cott @"hark@ *cLaren' #.". &ir Force pilot with the E0/st FLT" at :dwards &F(' )alif. Lockheed *artin photo %y 8arin >$ssell

Condu*ting a Test &n F-35( cond$cts a flight test. The F-35( short takeoff and vertical landing 2"T35L4 variant of the !oint "trike Fighter 2!"F4 is a vital capa%ility to the *arine )orps' %$t also to several friendly and partner nations now operating small aircraft carriers with <arriers. Lockheed *artin photo %y &ndy =olfe

Cat Shots F-35) aircraft )F-3 $ndergoing catap$lt la$nch testing &$g. /B' -.// at Lakeh$rst' +.!. The historic first catap$lt la$nch took place on !$ly -7' -.//' and today jet %last deflector 2!(84 testing is also complete. Lockheed *artin photo %y "enior Flight Test 9hotographer &ndy =olfe

Showing Off F-35( airframe (F-E shown d$ring flight E0' $ndertaking short takeoffs and hovering from the r$naway. #nlike the legacy <arrierAs direct lift system' the F-35( $ses a three-position rear no;;le with hot jet e?ha$st' a cool-air LiftFan system cl$tched off the front of the engine' and two roll-posts to provide lift and mane$vering power in the "T35L/5T3L modes. Lockheed *artin photo %y 9haedra Loftis

#ringing the F !"( +ome *arine *aj. !oseph (achmann' of the 33rd 3perations Cro$p' %rings the second F-35 Lightning !oint "trike Fighter down the ta?iway to its new home at :glin &ir Force (ase' Fla.' !$ly -.' -.//. (achmann was the first *arine pilot to %e !"F certified. &ircraft &F-6 is the flagship for the 56th Fighter ",$adron. #.". &ir Force photo %y "am$el Ding !r.

Eg$in -ntro The first F-35 Lightning !oint "trike Fighter 2!"F4 to arrive at the 33rd Fighter =ing was on display d$ring the aircraftAs official rollo$t ceremony &$g. -0' -.// at :glin &ir Force (ase' Fla. #.". &ir Force photo %y "am$el Ding !r.