STOVL F-35 Engages Lift Fan in Flight

[F-111 C/C]

Posted by Graham Warwick at 1/7/2010 2:23 PM CST  From AviationWeek

This just in - the first F-35B, aircraft BF-1, engaged its STOVL lift system in flight for the first time today (Jan. 7) during a test sortie from Pax River.

Lead STOVL pilot Graham Tomlinson engaged the shaft-driven lift fan at 5,000ft and 210kt, slowed to 180kt, then accelerated back to 210kt and converted back to conventional-flight mode.

The lift system was engaged for 14 minutes of the 48-min flight.

Plans call for the aircraft to fly progressively slower and lower on subsequent flights to build up confidence for the first vertical landing.

[RecceJet]

Another milestone! Well done to the JSF team!

[Webmaster]

Is it me, or is the F-35B getting more media exposure because of the fancy STOVL? Nobody seems to care about the F-35A prototype making its maiden flight back on Nov. 14. The first 'proper' F-35A prototype, following redesign to solve the weight issues. Plus half the world will be flying the -A variant, the STOVL is only for a relative few.

[F-111 C/C]

I was just happy to read some encouraging news about any variant. I so sick of reading all the naysayers negativity about the delays and setbacks, etc. of the 'A' model. I wish people would give this program some space to sort things out. I can't wait until it's operational so all the doubters will shut up.

[Eldorado82]

Indeed its a milestone for the STOVL. but it still a long way to full operational evenlope. I believe that all these critical systems are measured when they wors in a steady pace, like in squadrons and things like that. thinks like that- in the IAF we were calling them "opening flight evenlope" are goot for the prototypes but when an aircraft entering pre- and mass production itself i think it's systems should be checked and tested for a hunndred of times