Fri, Sep 08, 2006
Completes Aerodynamic Testing On Two JSF Variants
Officials at Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee
recently completed aerodynamic testing on two variants of the F-35
Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, to support flight testing of the
plane later this year.
With this latest test, the AEDC staff surpassed 8,000 hours of
JSF testing in the center's propulsion wind tunnel facility in
support of the system design and development phase of the
program.
High-speed force and moment data gathered from a conventional
takeoff and landing, or CTOL, and short takeoff/vertical landing,
or STOVL, F-35 models will go into a database. That information
will be added to computer-aided analysis for performance analysis
and flight control design and validation before flight testing can
begin.
"This is the final high-speed test for our CTOL and STOVL
aerodynamic performance and stability control databases on our
1/12-scale model," said Kim Kohrs, an F-35 stability and control
analyst with Lockheed Martin. "We've done various testing of low
speed and high speed unpowered force and moment testing for CTOL
and STOVL through the years. This test is our last entry to
conclude those databases."
"This test, along with aerodynamic testing on the Navy's carrier
version later this year, will finish up all of our scheduled F-35
wind tunnel testing during the system development and demonstration
phase." said Marc Skelley, Air Force project manager in AEDC's
716th Test Squadron.
The CTOL F-35 is the Air Force variant that will replace the
F-15 Eagle and A-10 Thunderbolt II and complement the F-22 Raptor.
The U.S. Marine Corps is due to receive the STOVL F-35 variant to
replace the AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18 Hornet. The United Kingdom's
Royal Air Force and Royal Navy also will fly the STOVL variant.
(Aero-News thanks Philip Lorenz III, Arnold Engineering
Development Center Public Affairs)
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