Tuesday, March 16, 2010

F-35 Lightning II - Closing Beta 1 testing


While I had not much time to work on the F-35 lately, I've already made several changes - and tried to fix the defects of the Beta 1.
My current "internal" build is now significantly different from the Beta 1, which is to be considered out-of-date.
I will keep updating the Beta 1 WIP post as reference (link below - please note it is not up-to-date in the moment I am writing):

http://indiafoxtecho.blogspot.com/2010/03/f-35a-beta-1-test-work-in-progress-post.html

At present, the only thing I am unable to fix is the occasional "jamming" of the MFD - the associated XML code seems correct, and the root cause seems to be a FSX "delay" in passing some internal parameters between the gauges... I will try changing the code once again, as soon as I will have the time - but chance is that this defect will be there at the time of release.
By the way, before the product is released, I will publish a document with a complete list of known inaccuracies and defects. The product will be available for download on a "no refunds" policy, which is common practice for many e-commerce sites. While I do not like the "no refunds" attitude, there are no practical ways in which I could support refunds. The best thing I can do is to give to potential customers the most accurate and complete information I can provide.

Here is an updated project schedule (realistic best-case scenario):

03/21 - Closing CR's for Beta 1
03/23 - Start AF-1 and F-35A model conversion
03/31 - All models complete
04/04 - Submit Beta 2 for final checks
04/11 - Create final build
04/15 - Submit to e-commerce sites

And while the virtual F-35 is late... it seems that the real one is making huge steps forward: the VTOL version is moving towards vertical flight test - currently slows down to 40 knots!

http://www.f-16.net/news_article4027.html

UPDATE:

F-35B achieves first vertical landing!
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2010/100318ae_f35b-vertical-landing.html

other videos (short take-off, hovering) here:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/f35/index.html

6 comments:

schmooze13 said...

Will the models be sold as seperate products as you complete other variations or do they become free updates?

ScimmiaSpaziale said...

The release version will feature AA-1, AF-1 (undecided between primer only livery or as per LockMart drawing) and an "operational" F-35. I will not release until all of those models will be complete.

As for the F-35B and F-35C I'd love to make them - but they require some extensive and relatively difficult modifications to the external models - and different flight models... I am not sure I'll have the time to make them, nor I know what would be the best way to distribute them.

Robby said...

Landed! :-)
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/03/18/339642/video-f-35-test-aircraft-achieves-first-vertical-landing.html

Robby said...

Cè posta per te :-)
Ora dovrebbe essere a posto

Robby

SpazSinbad said...

F-35 - Inventing the Joint Strike Fighter Dr. Paul Bevilaqua - Lockheed Martin Skunk Works - 12 Oct 2009

http://www.nps.edu/Academics/Institutes/Meyer/docs/Joint%20strike%20fighter.pdf (4.5Mb)
_______________________

3 videos of lecture here - I guess the PDF above is useful as notes for lecture?:

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2010/03/video-history-of-the-f-35-by-s.html

VIDEO: History of the F-35 by Skunk Works inventor (3 parts) By Stephen Trimble on March 22, 2010

"The DEW Line is pleased to offer a three-part video showing a fascinating (albeit poorly-lit), 1hr lecture on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, presented last week by Skunk Works engineer Paul Bevilaqua at Johns Hopkins University's applied physics laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Bevilaqua is credited with the invention of Lockheed Martin's shaft-driven lift-fan, the core technology allowing the short-takeoff-vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35B. The first part of the lecture is below, and click on the jump to view the other two parts."

Lecture part 1 .FLV video 78Mb
Lecture part 2 .FLV video 85Mb
Lecture part 3 .FLV video 43Mb
________________________________
total time 65min / total size 206Mb

I found this video lecture entertaining and very informative. It is inspiring to know how JSF came to be what will be the best aircraft for decades to come.

ScimmiaSpaziale said...

@ SpazSinbad

I had a quick look at the pdf, very interesting indeed - I will watch the videos asap.