Sat, May 21, 2011
CF-1 Aircraft Has Already Completed Half Its Planned Test
Flights For This Year
Naval Air Systems Command said Wednesday in a news release that
the test aircraft for the carrier variant of the F-35 Joint Strike
Fighter have exceeded test and evaluation program goals so far this
year. According to the announcement, the F-35C test aircraft,
'CF-1,' currently at Naval Air Station Patuxent River has completed
36 test flights as of May 11, nearly half the program's goal for
the year of 85.
"CF-1's been flying well, even with a number of planned and
unplanned maintenance periods," said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Roger
Cordell, military site director. "It's a great sign for the fleet
that the aircraft is doing well so early in the test program." In
April, CF-1 completed 13 flights, tying a record for the number of
test flights for any aircraft at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
Additionally, the integrated test team has completed seven CF-1
test flights this month.
"The team has been doing a great job staying on top of
maintenance requirements," said Jim McClendon, Lockheed Martin site
director vice president. "Just last week, CF-1 flew six flights in
six days, which is a great accomplishment in any test program, let
alone test and evaluation for a brand new aircraft."
Coupled with this week's arrival of the second carrier variant,
CF-2, and arrival of CF-3 later this year, the F-35C test program
is making rapid progress toward initial carrier suitability testing
this year at Joint Base Lakehurst-McGuire-Dix in New Jersey. First
carrier suitability testing this summer is scheduled to include the
first catapult launches, and the F-35C is scheduled to commence
shipboard testing in 2013.
More News
Capsized Vessel Located Near Dauphin Island, Alabama The Coast Guard rescued four boaters after their vessel capsized near Dauphin Island, Alabama, Thursday. Coast Guard District E>[...]
Reserve Components Looking to Improve In-House General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced a fresh order for a dozen Gray Eagle 25M UAVs with accompanying equipment, for fulfill>[...]
Brand New! Avoid The Need For A Comeback... Get Your Marketing Right, Right Now! Some time ago, the Aero-News Network, responding to numerous requests, established a marketing and >[...]
Also: Hubble On Pause, FedEx Pilots Picket, Nexus eVTOL, VFS Honors The Rotax folks have published a Service Bulletin after issues were noted that may affect all R915i and R916i se>[...]
John W. Winter of AEA and Avionic Fame Passes John W. Winter brought Mid-Continent Instrument Company into the modern era in 1980, purchasing the firm and using it as a base for ex>[...]