First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

[F-1]

I though it will be nice to share this with you guys :)

Source:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=927

Some images have shown up on flickr of the first production Lockheed Martin F-35 to come off the line. The X-35 (now designated F-35) was the winner of the US Defense Department's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program – Boeing's X-32 prototype came up a bit short.

The F-35 is a multi-role airframe designed to replace the AV-8B Harrier, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon/Viper. The F-35 will be available in three variants:

* F-35A: Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL)
* F-35B: Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL)
* F-35C: Carrier Based Variant (CV)

The F-35A will be the lightest of the bunch as it is the most conventional design. It will take off and land like a typical modern day fighter (i.e. F-22 Raptor). The F-35B will be the most complex design as it will have an exhaust nozzle that can rotate down 90 degrees and can be used in conjunction with a lift fan located behind the cockpit to accomplish vertical take-offs and landings. The F-35C variant is destined to naval service and will feature larger wings and control surfaces along with a beefed up undercarriage to handle carrier duties.

You can read more about the F-35 and the Joint Strike Fighter program here.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=11173&sc=400&www.dailytech.com

[rombaft]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

nice jet, the first ones that will have it are offcourse the US and the first ones who will see it and not have it are the iraqis

[ZemonerZ]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

that's a beautiful plane

[sav112]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

when does it enter service? nice to see that VTL other than our uk Harrier.

[F-1]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

officially it is already in service.
I remember I read some news on abcnews.com few weeks ago in which a US General said that if we go to a new war now then the F-35 will go with us!

[owenc17]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

The F-35B has the most powerful engine in any jet. 43,000 pound thurst lockheed mrtin F-135. The flame comes out faster than the speed of sound and at a higher pressure than the surrounding air resulting in "mach diamonds" forming. These give off a brilliant purple hue. I am not sure if they are visible in the game.


The reason the engine is so powerful is because it needs to power the turbine behind the passanger to lift the aircraft.

OVERALL its a fricken sweet jet/engine.

[tWiStEdGoat]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

Teh, I've already got a solid 5 hours in one of those... Don't believe me? Check my stats

[Brutus]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

The F-35 is not in production, in fact they haven't even started testing. In fact they don't even have the control room that will be used to do the testing up and running yet.

You are thinking of the F-22A, which IS in production and that is what the General you were refering to was talking about.

Edit: Yes the article says that it is the first production aircraft, but they don't know what they are talking about. An aircraft doesn't go into production until after it has been tested. That is the first test aircraft maybe.

[F-1]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

i think you are right. he was talking about the f-22 raptor. I also double check other news websites and they obviously say that this is the first test aircraft.

[DosX]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

The STOVL (35B) version has a 90* flexiable exhaust. When it's pointed down it looks like the Alien Queen egg laying parts LOL.



Can't see it too good from here, but a back picture looks very weird.

[Roo00]

Re: First Production Lockheed Martin F-35 Delivered

"I remember I read some news on abcnews.com few weeks ago in which a US General said that if we go to a new war now then the F-35 will go with us!"

with Bush in charge it would be long before you get chance