Video of the F-35's first combat mission off the Essex

[Grumpyguy]

The Essex is an amphibious carrier, much smaller than say the Nimitz. Interesting to see the take off and landing.

https://twitter.com/USMC/status/10453734...04/video/1

[jdc]

Landing doesnt look like it would be fun on a pitching deck. Although I suppose it dosnt have to come in pure vertical.

Hope it doesnt come up against John McLane...

https://youtu.be/JiLy7wZeqa4?t=2m34s

[space-time]

what is that "hatch" open behind the cockpit? its seems very non-aerodynamic, it mush serve a purpose like a huge air intake. Interesting that wikipedia does not seem to show pictures with that hatch open.

EDIT: it is the fan for the short takeoff and vertical landing

[Racer X]

Harriers have/had some odd ducting too.

[Will Collier]

space-time wrote:
what is that "hatch" open behind the cockpit? its seems very non-aerodynamic, it mush serve a purpose like a huge air intake. Interesting that wikipedia does not seem to show pictures with that hatch open.

EDIT: it is the fan for the short takeoff and vertical landing

Correct. That "cold fan" VTOL design for the B-model was one of the big reasons why the Lockheed prototype beat the Boeing prototype back in 2001.

[ztirffritz]

There is a really good NOVA episode about the competition between the two X planes. It spends quite a bit of time on the VTOL models used by the competing parties.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/xplanes/about.html

https://youtu.be/Y_WPLeDmU6o

[RAMd®d]

I have no idea about the F-35, but the Harrier is one noisy plan on a VTOL landing.

[Will Collier]

RAMd®d wrote:
I have no idea about the F-35, but the Harrier is one noisy plan on a VTOL landing.

I've never seen a F-35B take off, but can confirm that the standard-takeoff Air Force A-model is as loud as all get-out.

[Will Collier]

ztirffritz wrote:
There is a really good NOVA episode about the competition between the two X planes. It spends quite a bit of time on the VTOL models used by the competing parties.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/xplanes/about.html

https://youtu.be/Y_WPLeDmU6o

I was working in a USAF fighter squadron when that competition was going on. Aviation Week published a two-page spread showing both prototypes side by side on the ramp out at Edwards, and somebody laid it out on the ops desk. Every single pilot who walked by there would look at the pictures, point at the Boeing jet and say, "I wouldn't fly that ugly POS."

I should have bought Lockheed stock that day.