F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing On USS WASP

http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/f35.html ^

[navysealdad]

The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant completed ship suitability testing aboard the USS WASP (LHD-1) off the coast of Virginia in October 2011. Combined, F-35B test aircraft BF-2 and BF-4 accomplished 72 short takeoffs and 72 vertical landings during the three-week testing period. VIDEO

[Ole Okie]

Well, that’s impressive. Really impressive.

[benewton]

When I piloted aircraft, given they were only Tomahawks and Warriors, my elevators moved up on takeoff, pushing the tail down and the nose up, and away I, or we, went.

Every takeoff showed the elevators down, so what gives?

[FreedomProtector]

VTOL may make large scale aircraft carrier obsolete

There is less risk to a bunch of smaller targets/ships....a Nimitz class aircraft carrier is a great big target and consumes an entire battle group to try to protect it.

[UCANSEE2]

This aircraft will save a huge number of lives, and aircraft (money).

[Old Teufel Hunden]

sweet....

On the day Obama’s budget is out. Let’s see, cut funding for the F-35 that strikes fear into the heart of our enemies and keeps the wolf at bay. Or tell lazy scammers that they don’t get other people’s money anymore.... Decisions, decisions...

[UCANSEE2]

Every takeoff showed the elevators down, so what gives?

A different angle of thrust. Your jets were directed backwards only, and the only way to keep the nose up is to move the elevators up, just as in most planes.

These planes are focusing their thrust DOWNWARD, just behind the pilot. The NOSE is being propelled upward and needs no elevators to raise it. The ELEVATORS are primarily being used as FLAPS, during STO.

[knarf]

Must see TV, Karen

[taxcontrol]

Jr physicist here so only speculation -

Did you notice that the exhaust was also vectored down? I wonder if this was to help with the ground effect or to assist the exhaust in vectoring to achieve more vertical push???

[yawningotter]

I wonder if the position of the elevators has something to do with the short take off. The lift fan up front and the downward pointed exhaust in the back probably makes a takeoff in an F-35 much different than a conventional jet.

[NavyCanDo]

This old-school carrier sailor gives you thumbs up for that post. Very impressive.

[MichaelP]

I wonder how much fuel they have left after vertical launch? I bet they have to top off before the mission...

Mike

[MichaelP]

I wonder how much fuel they have left after vertical launch? I bet they have to top off before the mission...

Mike

[Tallguy]

They generally don’t take off vertically for that reason — fuel consumption. You can get airborne with more payload with a rolling take-off. They only land vertically.

[GonzoGOP]

VTOL may make large scale aircraft carrier obsolete

Not exactly. Go take a look at the range/payload of the F-35B (STOVL) vs the F-35C (Carrier). The price of that big honking lift fan for vertical landing is that you have to give up a quarter of your fuel load and 5 tons of ordinance. The F-35B isn't going to be doing any long range strike missions with only a 450 nmi combat radius. Great for a defensive fighter, but most of the work carriers have done since 1945 has been long range strike.

In addition there is the old maxim that quantity has a quality all its own. A Nimitz class has an air wing of 85-90 aircraft. A Wasp class in sea control mode carries a complement of only 20. So you need to buy four Wasp's to get as many planes into combat as one Nimitz.

Finally you mention escorts. Well Wasp, at 45,000 tos is a capital ship. She isn't going anyplace without escorts. So you don't get savings there.

The advantage of STOVL is that it lets you use the Wasp class flexibly depending on the needs. They can be a light carrier, or a marine assault transport. They can provide the defensive fighter cover for a marine task force hence freeing up the big decks for the strike mission. They complement rather than replace the big deck carriers.

[puppypusher]

For all of the negative press I have read about the F-35B you’d think the plane is an obsolete Turkey.But then this is the same press that said the F-15,16 and 18 were outclassed by everything the Russians produced and they could not fly and fight out of desert and winter environments.

I think we should disregard everything the enemy press has to say about these programs.As far as I’m concerned it’s a worthwhile expendature of our tax dollars unlike the Solyndra and Green energy fiasco.

[Vinnie]

Wonder if they are easier to control in VSTOL than the Harrier.

[Vroomfondel]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2828702/posts

[GeronL]

That was very nice!

[Jeff Head]

Here are some of the pics on my US Navy 21st Century site about the Joint Strike Fighter, and specifically the F-35B.

F-35B On the USS Wasp during Quals

Other sites:

WORLD-WIDR AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

AEGIS VESSELS OF THE WORLD

THE RISING SEA DRAGON IN ASIA