Fifth-Generation Fighter makes First-ever Hover and Vertical Landing
Posted by editor-at-large on 18 March 2010 at 7:14 pm UTC
A STOVL (short take-off and vertical landing) version of the super-stealthy F-35 Lightning II made its first-ever vertical landing today, after a first-ever hover yesterday.
According to Lockheed Martin, the fighter “rode more than 41,000 pounds of thrust to a vertical landing today for the first time, confirming its required ability to land in confined areas both ashore and afloat.
“‘Today’s vertical landing onto a 95-foot square pad showed that we have the thrust and the control to maneuver accurately both in free air and in the descent through ground effect,’ said F-35 Lead STOVL Pilot Graham Tomlinson.
“Tomlinson performed an 80-knot (93 miles per hour) short takeoff from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., at 1:09 p.m. EDT. About 13 minutes into the flight, he positioned the aircraft 150 feet above the airfield, where he commanded the F-35 to hover for approximately one minute then descend to the runway. …
“The F-35B will replace U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B STOVL fighters and F/A-18 strike fighters. The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian Air Force and Navy will employ the F-35B as well. With its short takeoff and vertical landing capability, the F-35B will enable allied forces to conduct operations from small ships and unprepared fields, enabling expeditionary operations around the globe.”
A video clip of yesterday’s hover may be accessed here.
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at uswriter.com.
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