Not Warbird..yet F-35 sighting
Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:29 am
I got lucky today and got to witness the high speed taxi test of the new F-35A Lightning II at Carswell Field in Ft. Worth.
First Flight possibly in the next couple of days. Wish me luck on that catch.
Z
First Flight possibly in the next couple of days. Wish me luck on that catch.
Z
Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:47 am
Wow! How were you able to be so close? 
Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:40 am
Sweet pic! Honestly, I was stationed at CAFB in the 80's and can't recall seeing downtown Ft. Worth so close. Was the position of the F-35 at the south end of the runway?
Thanks again,
t~
Thanks again,
t~
Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:32 am
Thanks,
The anwser is ... Zoom lens. Space compression on a zoom lens can make things look close together that are really not. I had no depth of field im my picture.
Here's an example of the airfield without the zoom...this is someone elses photo..thanks Keith...from Monday. Yesterday I was standing in a pickup bed about where the lady with the baby is in this shot. The airplane was straight across from us on the runway headed south.
The anwser is ... Zoom lens. Space compression on a zoom lens can make things look close together that are really not. I had no depth of field im my picture.
Here's an example of the airfield without the zoom...this is someone elses photo..thanks Keith...from Monday. Yesterday I was standing in a pickup bed about where the lady with the baby is in this shot. The airplane was straight across from us on the runway headed south.
F-35
Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:45 am
Nice shot, Zane! I'll be looking forward to seeing your First Flight pics!
Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:05 pm
From Aero News Network
Top News
F-35 Completes Taxi Tests, Prepares For Flight
Wed, 13 Dec '06
Could Happen Any Day Now...
ANN REALTIME REPORTING 12.13.06 1115 EST: Representatives with Lockheed Martin tell ANN the first production-spec F-35 Lightning II successfully completed all ground taxi tests Tuesday, paving the way for its inaugural flight.
In a series of tests that began on December 7, F-35 Chief Pilot Jon Beesley guided the fighter along the runway at increasing speeds to evaluate the aircraft's ground handling and systems. On December 12, Beesley executed two final taxi runs, the first at 80 knots and the last at 110 knots.
Pushed along by the Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan -- the most powerful fighter engine in history -- the Lightning II performed its final taxi runs successfully, with all parameters meeting Lockheed's expectations.
Over the next 24 hours the flight test team will review all taxi-test data... and although the date for first flight is not definite, the flight window will be from 9 am - 3 pm CST when all conditions - weather, etc. - are "go."
Expect a first flight before the end of this week... possibly, before the end of today.
The stealthy F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, fifth-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 Lightning II with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting close. I wish them the best of luck. Flight Test is a dangerous business.
Robbie
Top News
F-35 Completes Taxi Tests, Prepares For Flight
Wed, 13 Dec '06
Could Happen Any Day Now...
ANN REALTIME REPORTING 12.13.06 1115 EST: Representatives with Lockheed Martin tell ANN the first production-spec F-35 Lightning II successfully completed all ground taxi tests Tuesday, paving the way for its inaugural flight.
In a series of tests that began on December 7, F-35 Chief Pilot Jon Beesley guided the fighter along the runway at increasing speeds to evaluate the aircraft's ground handling and systems. On December 12, Beesley executed two final taxi runs, the first at 80 knots and the last at 110 knots.
Pushed along by the Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan -- the most powerful fighter engine in history -- the Lightning II performed its final taxi runs successfully, with all parameters meeting Lockheed's expectations.
Over the next 24 hours the flight test team will review all taxi-test data... and although the date for first flight is not definite, the flight window will be from 9 am - 3 pm CST when all conditions - weather, etc. - are "go."
Expect a first flight before the end of this week... possibly, before the end of today.
The stealthy F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, fifth-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 Lightning II with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting close. I wish them the best of luck. Flight Test is a dangerous business.
Robbie
Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:49 pm
Nice shot Z!!!
Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:00 pm
Top News
From Aero News Network
F-35 Takes Flight!
Fri, 15 Dec '06
ANN REALTIME REPORTING 12.15.06 1430 EST: Aero-News has confirmed earlier News-Spy reports that moments ago, the first production-spec F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter took to the skies over Fort Worth, TX.
WFAA-7 reports several hundred people turned out to witness the aircraft takeoff from the Lockheed Martin facility. Accompanied by two F-16s flying trail, the F-35's first flight is expected to last about an hour.
Stay tuned to ANN for further updates.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lets hope all goes well.
Robbie
From Aero News Network
F-35 Takes Flight!
Fri, 15 Dec '06
ANN REALTIME REPORTING 12.15.06 1430 EST: Aero-News has confirmed earlier News-Spy reports that moments ago, the first production-spec F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter took to the skies over Fort Worth, TX.
WFAA-7 reports several hundred people turned out to witness the aircraft takeoff from the Lockheed Martin facility. Accompanied by two F-16s flying trail, the F-35's first flight is expected to last about an hour.
Stay tuned to ANN for further updates.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lets hope all goes well.
Robbie
Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:59 pm
Robbie Stuart wrote:Pushed along by the Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan -- the most powerful fighter engine in history -- the Lightning II performed its final taxi runs successfully, with all parameters meeting Lockheed's expectations.
Is it really the most powerful fighter engine in history?
Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:04 pm
DAAAMMN! that is one sweet looking bird!!
the pic is reversed right?
the pic is reversed right?
Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:17 pm
reversed?
What, no pics this time?
What, no pics this time?
Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:57 pm
oops
Last edited by Ztex on Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:57 pm
I didin't get the digi pics..here's a friends shot (Thanks Keith)
Here's LM official money shot...
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/f35/26_54328.jpg
Here's LM official money shot...
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/f35/26_54328.jpg
Fri Dec 15, 2006 9:49 pm
lucky dog!!! even the av mags couldn't get that good of a candid pic without prior arrangements!! way to go!!!
Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:57 pm
Wow! Great Pictures!!!