JSF to fly following electrical system review

Posted on: Jul. 10th, 2007 || Source: Flight Global | E-mail Article | Print Article

Lockheed Martin plans to resume flight-testing the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter 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.

Read the full article

• Boeing, US Navy Offer Super Hornet for Denmark Fighter Competition
• Boeing Awarded US Army Contract for 191 CH-47F Chinook Helicopters
• The Netherlands shows interest in Gripen
• 4th F-35 Lightning II Rolls Out As Production Line Fills Up At Lockheed
• Lockheed Martin C-5m Super Galaxy Completes Flight Test
• Air Guard Predator pilots increase combat air patrols
• Predator passes 400,000 hours
• Future Predator/Reaper Formal Training Unit announced
• Saab/Gripen team completes Hungarian offset contract
• South African Gripen deliveries on track
• Boeing Delivers Super Hornet Proposal to Brazil For F-X2 Competition
• Northrop to Support NASA's Global Hawk Earth Science Research Aircraft
• NATO forces a step closer to attaining C-17s
• Northrop, Rockwell Collins Prove Concept for New B-2 Cockpit Display
• Navy's BAMS UAS Program Begins After GAO Ruling