JSF Team Finishes F-35 Structural Testing Early, Begins Ground-Vibration Testing at Lockheed Martin
17 Avril 2006 - 5:58PM
PR Newswire (US)
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Lockheed
Martin (NYSE:LMT) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter team successfully
completed structural- coupling testing five days ahead of schedule
on the first F-35, and moved on to the next scheduled series of
ground tests. The F-35's first flight is planned for this fall.
"All of the test results were within the expected range -- an
excellent indication we thoroughly understand the flight-control
system and the aircraft's structural response to flight-control
inputs," said Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president
and JSF program general manager. The testing concluded on April 2
and measured the aircraft's structural response to specific
flight-control movements. "Flight controls can move very rapidly
and generate very large forces that must be passed through the
aircraft structure; for every action there is a reaction," said
Doug Pearson, Lockheed Martin vice president of the F-35 Integrated
Test Force. "Therefore, we need to know exactly how the aircraft
structure reacts to a given dynamic flight-control input." During
structural-coupling testing, a wide range of specific flight-
control movements are initiated using the on-board aircraft
flight-control system. Based on the data collected during the
testing, engineers can "tune" the flight-control system to
eliminate responses that could potentially damage the aircraft
structure. The tuned flight-control system is transparent to the
pilot and ensures that the system will be responsive to his or her
demands. The test team evaluated eight different F-35 fuel- and
weapons-load configurations. The aircraft's two internal weapons
bays were fully loaded with inert bombs (Joint Direct Attack
Munitions) and air-to-air missiles for the first time, and the
weapons-bay doors were opened and closed repeatedly. F-35 ground
vibration testing started on April 11 and involves the use of
shaking devices that place loads and movements on flight-control
surfaces, and measure the aircraft's response. The first round of
ground tests involved a thorough checkout of the F-35's fuel system
during which time no leaks were detected -- a first for a modern
fighter. The stealthy F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5TH
Generation fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing
aircraft, including AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets
and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers. Lockheed Martin
is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners,
Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) and BAE Systems. Two separate,
interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt &
Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136. Each
power plant produces 40,000 pounds of thrust, making the F-35 the
most powerful single-engine fighter ever. Four F-35 aircraft are
currently in assembly, with 15 scheduled to fly during the
aircraft's test program. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed
Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally
engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture,
integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems,
products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2
billion. For additional information, visit our Web site:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ DATASOURCE: Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics Company CONTACT: John R. Kent, +1-817-763-3980, or , or
John Smith, +1-817-763-4084, or , both of Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics Company Web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/117281.html
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