F-35B

**janner** · 04-02-12, 18:27

This video linkis fresh (for the public). It was made just six weeks ago in the Atlantic, just off Newport News ( Hampton Roads), Virginia .

Theseare the latest sea trials of the F-35B on the USS Wasp. They were very successful, with 74 VL's and STO's in a three week period.

The media and the program critics had predicted that we would burn holes in the deck and wash sailors overboard.

Neither of which happened. You will notice a sailor standing on the bow of the ship as the jet rotates.

That was an intentional part of the sea trials.

Nocatapult... No hook.... It’s a new world out there!

The shape and scope of warfare – worldwide – just changed.Click your cursor here on:> F-35B

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**EarlyChop** · 04-02-12, 18:54

Thanks Janner, that vid made my wee go all white.

**Waspie** · 04-02-12, 20:46

Awesome, I really hope the 'new' RN gets this aircraft.

**Tomahawk** · 05-02-12, 10:44

That is a cracking bit of kit!

**Handler** · 05-02-12, 11:07

Just goes to show what a bit of foresight, and investment ( Zillions ) I know, plus how far the RN has fallen behind in all things to do with naval aviation. Lovely clear and well filmed footage though.

**TeeCeeCee** · 05-02-12, 12:44

There's a fan in the dorsal position of the ACs body for vertical take-offs/landings... and so we find the flaps above it are raised when the AC is doing such actions.

So why are the dorsal flaps/hatches raised when it takes off down the flightdeck? Does it need that fan for additional lift?

**SJRM_RN** · 05-02-12, 13:20

Originally Posted by TeeCeeCee

There's a fan in the dorsal position of the ACs body for vertical take-offs/landings... and so we find the flaps above it are raised when the AC is doing such actions.

So why are the dorsal flaps/hatches raised when it takes off down the flightdeck? Does it need that fan for additional lift?

I think so, if you notice just as it leaves the deck the rear engine cowling[?] is pointing downwards which I presume is to provide thrust and uplift. With this in mind I would think that it possibly needs nearly as/just as much air/thrust to take off as it does to land (I am no expert on this, just an educated guess)

**Topstop** · 05-02-12, 13:29

Originally Posted by TeeCeeCee

So why are the dorsal flaps/hatches raised when it takes off down the flightdeck? Does it need that fan for additional lift?

Watch the jet pipe just before take off.

Harrier does something similar for short take off. See first few second of Video nozzles move from aft to 45 deg.

**TeeCeeCee** · 06-02-12, 22:21

Originally Posted by Topstop

Watch the jet pipe just before take off.

Harrier does something similar for short take off.

Interesting! These AC operate different to how I'd envisioned. That f35 was flying away from the ship with the rear nozzle pointing down at the sea... in fact in some shots the seas surface gets ruffled by the blast. You'd you expected it to be more back (for speed), than down (lift) as it is already airbourne!

The F35 is looking good! How does it compare speedwise with it's non-VERTOL competitors?