Joint trike Fighter Competition - Battle of the X-Planes - HD Documentary

[PAFAce]

This is an absolutely great documentary on the Joint Strike Fighter flight-test phase between Lockheed Martin's X-35 and Boeing's X-32. It is quite old, but apparently, many here have not seen it.

Just one thing, the JSF program was not a fly-off. The Flight Test phase was one of the many phases during the design of the JSF competition, and its primary objective was risk reduction and technology demonstration. That said, the flight-test phase was probably the most important part of the design phase.

This is an absolutely brilliant watch if you're an engineer or an aerospace enthusiast of any kind.

 

[hj786]

That was pretty good.

They said the test pilot who landed the dodgy F-22 on its belly has experience test-flying other "black" aircraft that are still classified. What could these be?
It seems to me that nothing went right for the X-32.

 

[PAFAce]

They said the test pilot who landed the dodgy F-22 on its belly has experience test-flying other "black" aircraft that are still classified. What could these be?

That pilot is pretty famous for this kind of work. His name pops up in many books and articles related to flight-testing (as you can tell, I spend my free time reading about planes, such a loser). Just take a look at his resume below, I doubt you could hope for something better as a pilot.

Tom Morgenfeld
Test Pilot Instructor, Fixed Wing

Academic Qualifications
BS Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy
MS Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
Empire Test Pilots’ School, Class 34FW

Flight Qualifications
Over 7,000 hours in 58 different types, primarily fighter aircraft
Over 500 carrier landings
Commercial SMEL, Instrument ratings
Qualified USN Combat Flight Instructor, USAF Aggressor Pilot

Flight Test Experience
Operational Test Pilot, Operational Test Director for F-18 and various classified programs - USN
Chief Test Pilot, Director of Flight Operations - Lockheed Skunk Works
Engineering Test Pilot, Experimental Test Pilot, Flight Test Manager, Chief Test Pilot – YF/F-117
Experimental Test Pilot, Chief Test Pilot – YF-22
Chief Test Pilot – X-35

Professional Affiliations
Fellow and Past President, Society of Experimental Test Pilots
Distinguished Lecturer, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

It seems to me that nothing went right for the X-32.

Until the dem-val phase, Boeing was ahead of schedule. It seemed to be the team that had it all figured out. However, once in dem-val, their lack of experience in this type of projects when compared with the Lockheed Martin team really showed. I mean, something as simple as the choice of refueling process type can cause such major ramifications, that can only comes with experience (or psychic abilities).

There is a saying in engineering, and in fact it's true to life, "there is no substitute for experience".

 

[fahmad321]

thanks .