Successful Fuel Testing Of F-35 Lightning II Stovl

Published: Feb 19, 2008
Source: BAE Systems



Fort Worth, Texas, US – BAE Systems has completed critical fuel testing on the first F-35 Lightning II short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant five days ahead of its schedule proving the maturity of both the aircraft and programme.

The important fuel checks of the design and build of the aircraft was led by BAE Systems and involved constant testing, 24 hours a day for 13 days, which checked the calibration of the aircraft’s fuel gauging systems. Testing took place at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant in Texas where the first STOVL aircraft, BF-1, is currently undergoing a series of tests in preparation of first flight later this year.

Tom Fillingham, F-35 Lightning II Managing Director at BAE Systems said: “It was a milestone moment in the programme. This is the first STOVL we’ve tested, and we wanted to make sure the designs worked and check that the fuel systems had been put together properly.”

The BAE Systems team of engineers are based at Warton, Lancashire, and travelled out to Fort Worth to undertake the programme of testing.

Following the fuel testing the aircraft is undergoing structural coupling and ground vibration testing, as well as completing hydraulic testing of the doors and landing gear.

BAE Systems is responsible for the design and delivery of the aft fuselage and empennage for each of the three F-35 variants, as well as key areas of the vehicle and mission systems, in particular the fuel system, crew escape, life support system and prognostics health management integration. The Company also has significant work share in autonomic logistics, primarily on the support system side, and is involved in the Integrated Test Force, including the systems flight test and mission systems.

BAE Systems Inc in the US also brings key capabilities to the F-35 programme and delivers significant elements of the programme including electronic warfare, advanced low observable apertures, advanced countermeasure systems, vehicle management computer and active inceptor systems.

Three versions of the F-35 Lightning II are planned: a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL), a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) and a carrier variant (CV). Each is derived from a common design, and will ensure that the F-35 JSF meets the performance needs of the US Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and allied defence forces worldwide, while staying within strict affordability targets.

The F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), will be the world’s first and only stealthy, supersonic, multi-role fighter. The F-35 is being developed for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps to replace the AV-8B Harrier, A-10, F-16 and the F/A-18 Hornet and for the UK’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy to replace the Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier.
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