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(Video) F-35 Ski Jump Test Launch
The F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 conducted the first-ever ski jump of an F-35B Lightning II short take-off/vertical-landing (STOVL) variant June 19. During flight 298, BAE test pilot Peter Wilson launched aircraft BF-04 from a land-based ski jump located aboard NAS Patuxent River. This test is the first of a series of U.K. ski jump events scheduled for 2015. (youtu.be) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
All those billions to make it take off like Harrier, here's an idea update and bring back the Harrier. Damn sight cheaper & more reliable. Rename this F35 lemon the "Booby bird"!
12 years at vx23/ strike / salty dog. 18 years at NAS PAX
Doesn't the F-22 get off the ground about that quickly, without a jump/ramp ? Not to mention then climbing away quite a bit quicker..... I see no stats on the F-35 Climb rate currently altho I do believe its performance has been re-spec'd downward (speed, turn, climb) as it was not meeting its original spec'd performance... F-22 is about 55k/ft/min
Nope.
I have the impression that any launch profile, other than by catapult, will require a ready tanker to top off the aircraft with enough fuel to do the mission.
The British carrier HMS Invincible (now decommisioned) is a really good example of the use of a ski ramp used for take-offs. This is why an English pilot was at the controls.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/HMS_Invincible_(R05)_Dragon_Hammer_90.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/HMS_Invincible_(R05)_Dragon_Hammer_90.jpg