Mon, Feb 25, 2008
Aircraft Passes Gauge Calibration, Tests Of Systems
Last week, BAE Systems told ANN the
company 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
program.
The checks of the design and build of the aircraft were 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.
"It was a milestone moment in the program," said Tom Fillingham,
F-35 Lightning II Managing Director at BAE Systems. "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
testing program. 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.
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