Fri, Sep 24, 2010
STOVL Variant Nears Initial Service Release Certification
The F135 engine for the F-35 Lightning Joint Strike fighter has
surpassed 19,000 hours and the Short Take Off Vertical Landing
(STOVL) variant is in the final stages of testing prior to
receiving Initial Service Release Certification from the U.S.
Government later this year, Pratt & Whitney said Monday.
F135 STOVL Variant File Photo
"The F135 journey continues," said Bennett Croswell, Vice
President of F119/F135 engine programs. "I've been involved with
this program since concept demonstration, and when I look back on
the last 10 years, the accomplishments we've seen, the history
we've made powering the first ever supersonic, stealthy military
jet capable of vertical lift operations, I could not be prouder to
be a part of this propulsion team."
Pratt & Whitney has delivered all 29 test engines as well as
9 production F135 engines to the customer. The engine has
successfully powered more than 350 F-35 flights including several
vertical lift operations accumulating nearly 500 flight test hours.
Also this year the F135 powered the F-35 STOVL variant through
supersonic flight and the first production F135 engine has been
installed in a production F-35. Throughout the year, through the
achievement of all these major program milestones, the F135 engine
is demonstrating excellent reliability, performance and thrust
response. The F135 has achieved 20% thrust over specifications on
both test and production engines.
File Photo
"With the Conventional Take Off and Landing variant F135
receiving ISR certification earlier this year, and the STOVL F135
variant scheduled to receive ISR certification later this year,
2010 will mark the accomplishment of the last of the major F135
engine development program milestones," Croswell said.
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