Pics of Britain's first F-35 Lightning II

[Ayahuasca]

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-...





First of many or last of few?

[Eric Mc]

Excessive use of filler I'd suggest. Wouldn't win any prizes at ScaleModelworld.

[Zaxxon]

If it looks right, it'll fly right.......









........unless you can use computers to control it, if that's the case you can make it look like a pigs ear.

[Elroy Blue]

Shame it's not actually the version we are going to be using. Anybody want to buy three F-35Bs, hardly used, like new.

[Seight_Returns]

So we're still contractually obliged to buy 2 pre-production B models, even though we've switched from buying the F35-B to the F35-C.

Sounds like another triumph for MOD procurement.

Edit - x post with EB.

[Elroy Blue]

We're trying to swap them with the US Marines. I don't imagine we'll do well out of the deal.

[Eric Mc]

Elroy Blue said:

We're trying to swap them with the US Marines. I don't imagine we'll do well out of the deal.

I have a wizard plan, Maybe we can bribe them by throwing in a job lot of slightly used Harriers........

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

Excessive use of filler I'd suggest. Wouldn't win any prizes at ScaleModelworld.

It does look rather like a dropped hard boiled egg.


What fraction of one can we afford, or did we run out of money before the painting stage?

[eharding]

They should leave the primer as is, and use them for live-action airborne shots in the final part of the 'Tron' trilogy. No CG required.

[jmorgan]

Should this be in scale models.......



Sorry, doe look like it.

[mph1977]

Elroy Blue said:

We're trying to swap them with the US Marines. I don't imagine we'll do well out of the deal.

well the USMC are the main customer for the -B and the US navy has _cs on order so it all depends on who is on whose christmas card list ...

[Talksteer]

Elroy Blue said:

Shame it's not actually the version we are going to be using. Anybody want to buy three F-35Bs, hardly used, like new.

I'd be surprised if any of the test aircraft are ever operational. The UK is paying for a certain % of the test aircraft as part of the JSF project they will essentially get the carrier aircraft tested for free.

[Seight_Returns]

Does this imply that we get to participate in the flight test program for the B model which we no longer have any ongoing interest in - but wil have no input into the test program for the C model which we do care about ? - or am I reading too much into this ?

[Ian Lancs]

Talksteer said:

Elroy Blue said:

Shame it's not actually the version we are going to be using. Anybody want to buy three F-35Bs, hardly used, like new.

I'd be surprised if any of the test aircraft are ever operational. The UK is paying for a certain % of the test aircraft as part of the JSF project they will essentially get the carrier aircraft tested for free.

Very few test aircraft (I mean proper test aircraft - not series production aircraft with test equipment fitted) ever see life outside the constructor - I can't think of any in the last 20yrs in Europe (but no doubt someone will prove me wrong in a bit)

[Mojocvh]

So how many hundred of million $$$$ will this test hack cost us, when we inevitably "withdraw" from the program?

F35's basic drawback-one [powerful] engine keeping an airframe costing 200+ million bucks in the air.

Stupid, plane [] stupid.

Edited by Mojocvh on Sunday 27th November 14:43

[aeropilot]

Seight_Returns said:

Does this imply that we get to participate in the flight test program for the B model which we no longer have any ongoing interest in - but wil have no input into the test program for the C model which we do care about ?

Pretty much sums it up.

But, we've paid for it and we're contracted to do it.

[Ian Lancs]

aeropilot said:

Seight_Returns said:

Does this imply that we get to participate in the flight test program for the B model which we no longer have any ongoing interest in - but wil have no input into the test program for the C model which we do care about ?

Pretty much sums it up.

But, we've paid for it and we're contracted to do it.

Pretty much sums up what the general public think. But it's not the case. There will be UK involvement in the c-model testing.

[aeropilot]

Ian Lancs said:

aeropilot said:

Seight_Returns said:

Does this imply that we get to participate in the flight test program for the B model which we no longer have any ongoing interest in - but wil have no input into the test program for the C model which we do care about ?

Pretty much sums it up.

But, we've paid for it and we're contracted to do it.

Pretty much sums up what the general public think. But it's not the case. There will be UK involvement in the c-model testing.

Sorry, I meant just the bit about the B......should have edited out the bit about the C in my quoted response.... as you are correct, the 3rd of the 3 test a/c is going to be a C rather than a B provided that the swap is approved by Congress of course.