F-35B Makes First Vertical Landing at Sea

[Quasar]

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[monitor]

Rolls-Royce To Deliver First Lift Fan For F-35B

Rolls-Royce has completed the first lift fan for the Lockheed Martin F-35B to be produced at a $13 million final assembly plant opened 17 months ago.
The London, UK-headquartered manufacturer was due to deliver the first module - the 12th lift fan to be completed overall - to Lockheed on 4 October.

The roughly 1,220kg (2,690lb) lift fan activates in short take-off and vertical landing modes for the F-35B, generating an output of 19,000lb-thrust (85kN).

The fan combines with a three-bearing swivel nozzle in the exhaust and twin roll posts.

The overall system creates 40,700lb-thrust, allowing the F-35B to hover and take-off from the US Marine Corps' LHD-class amphibious carriers.
Rolls-Royce expects the new facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, to build 84 lift fans each year - although expected commitments for the F-35B have fallen in the last year, from about 520 to 400 orders.

The US Department of Defense also has frozen orders for the F-35B at six per year through 2013.

The production freeze, in particular, has made it challenging for Rolls-Royce to meet cost targets for the lift fan component, said Gregg Pyers, the company's lift fan programme director.

But the manufacturer has so far minimised changes to its production system. Although the UK Royal Navy has dropped out of the programme, Rolls-Royce has no plans to transfer work on lift fan components from the UK to Indianapolis, Pyers added.

Home Page | Flightglobal.com

 

[monitor]

 

[500]

last screenshot is awesome:

 

[500]

HD video:

 

[Harry_Thomason]

Landing was smooth, nothing to complain about. F35 looks good too, just when fan cover is open fighter looks weird, as if cockpit is open and pilot wants some fresh air

 

[OrionHunter]

Long term pilots of this plane will suffer from lower back problems , problems with nerves and other problems related to disabilty
such hard landings will result in huge problems for pilots ... some day not now but in 3-5 years when pilots will be suing the company it will be big news

Nothing happened to the Harrier pilots so far even after two decades of landings! Our pilots must have real hard a$$es!!

 

[gambit]

Nothing happened to the Harrier pilots so far even after two decades of landings! Our pilots must have real hard a$$es!!

Sometimes I wonder if that man is actually a 12yr old.

 

[Thomas]

dont know may be the old rule is still valid ! if it looks good it flies good!

The F-22 is one beautiful masterpiece still unmatched.

As far as the F-35 it is sleek in design and unmatched in it's electronics capability.

BBC News - Joint Strike Fighter: High-tech deadly eye in the sky

 

[VelocuR]

What is the benefit of Vertical Landing at seat with slow speed? Are they doing to do V/STOL in real wars in no time?

I like the traditional speed fly off the carrier quickly and smooth in better way. I don't see any special about this F-35s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drMj7HP-IDI&feature=related

See #18 by chogy.

just for smaller ships, it is not reasonable and stupid.

 

[livingdead]

What is the benefit of Vertical Landing at seat with slow speed? Are they doing to do V/STOL in real wars in no time?

I like the traditional speed fly off the carrier quickly and smooth in better way. I don't see any special about this F-35s.

See #18 by chogy.

 

[houshanghai]

F-35B can even load with weapons and take off vertically with a light load of fuel from Carrier and then get gas from a tanker to perform its mission. this is a monster.

 

[krash]

The STOVL F-35 isn't designed for the Navy. They will not be using it on the big carriers. It is primarily a Marine version, to be used on smaller ships. For the near future, the U.S. Navy will continue to operate with F/A-18's.

And then replace the Hornets with F-35Cs.

 

[Vibs]

Interesting to see this!!! Even if we debate the role it plays in Naval carriers, it has immense potential of operating out of front line aircraft bases where runways are badly damaged.

 

[gambit]

F-35B can even load with weapons and take off vertically with a light load of fuel from Carrier and then get gas from a tanker to perform its mission. this is a monster.

I take it you speak from extensive experience in designing aircrafts?