JSF to fly following electrical system review

Published: Jul 10, 2007
Source: Flight Global



Lockheed Martin plans to resume flight-testing the first <a href="/page/48/F-35-Lightning-II.html">F-35 Joint Strike Fighter</a> in August after a complete audit of the aircraft's electrical system was launched following a brief power failure on its last flight in early May.

The fault was caused by a short in the F-35's 270V power system when a lead inside a box touched the lid. "It was a short-duration event and the system responded exactly as it should," says air vehicle team lead Bobby Williams.

The power-by-wire flight-control system locked the affected surface - the right horizontal stabiliser - and adjusted the authority on the other control surfaces to compensate. "If the pilot had not known he had a fault, he would not have been aware of it from a flying qualities standpoint," says Williams.continue..