New Pictures Of The F-35 With Its Weapons Bay Doors Wide Open (Very Impressive Pictures)

Business Insider ^ | March 17, 2012 | Robert Johnson

[lbryce]

Maybe it's the sleek lines and the state-of-the-art design, or maybe it's the almost underdog status the $382 billion program has adopted since it began testing, either way new pictures of the F-35's baby steps keep popping up online.

These were taken March 1, and posted to the Aviationist by David Cenciotti. They show the STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) model with its weapon bays open and a couple of dummy 2,000 pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) smart bombs.

One more picture left to view.due to excerpt rule

[lbryce]

Very impressive.Seems the sales team is out in full force trying to drum up business for those countries who've been expressing reservations about costs. These images might help change some minds. Also strike some fear in others.

[BipolarBob]

“Open the pod bay door, Hal.”

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Something’s missing...the other engine. It needs another engine.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Army Air Corps]

You mean, like the F-22?

[bunkerhill7]

If it`s got mini-bomb bays, it`s mini-bomber.

[BreezyDog]

You mean, like the F-22?

Thank you for pointing that out. I was about to say something less nice :-)

[Ken522]

It’s got 2 intakes and 1 exhaust ... does that mean it has 1.5 engines? ;-)

[Chode]

was this a launch test??? the third pic shows air to air on the bay doors

[KarlInOhio]

a couple of dummy 2,000 pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) smart bombs.

Dummy smart bombs? I'll put that in my oxymoron file with Congresstional ethics.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm ..?? Plan A hasn’t been working very good .. looks like we’ll have to go to Plan B after all.

Darn .. should’uve learned to shoot.

[BreezyDog]

Good Pics of the F 22...shame where it came from

[KarlInOhio]

Something’s missing...the other engine. It needs another engine.

Unless you're a B-52 pilot. Then you think it needs another seven engines.

[ducttape45]

you’re right, those are some impressive pictures.

[Afterguard]

Pratt &Whitney F135. Plenty of engine.

[B.O. Plenty]

These are impressive pictures....

...but I will tell you what is impressive to me:

...The Collings Foundation has brought a B-17 a B-24 and a P-51 to Dallas to show and to sell rides for fund raising. I live in the traffic pattern of Love Field and the B-17 and B-24 have been flying low over my house. It almost brings tears to my eyes to see and hear these old planes still flying.

They radiate competence...you see them and just know that they are the finest craftsmanship in the world. The sound that their engines make is a low grumble....and you just know that the German people who were not involved with the NAZI's hated to hear these sounds rumbling in the distance, but were absolutely moving their way....

...they will be flying all day tomorrow, and I will be watching every one...

[norton]

It almost brings tears to my eyes to see and hear these old planes still flying.

To this day I believe that the B-17 is the most beautiful airplane ever built.

[Erasmus]

The third one is also different from the first two; presumably a C model, judging from the ventral bulge, which I presume conceals the tailhook.

[Chode]

over land maybe... over water and a hundred miles from the ship, maybe not

[Erasmus]

You have a point. But if you’re willing to consider civil aircraft, I’d put the Lockheed Connie beside it.