At last I've finished moving all my stuff into my new home - which is still a mess but it is getting better every day, so I am beginning to find some time to work on the F-35. It is not yet complete, but it only needs very few hours of work.
Unfortunately I am still having major problems with the internet connection in this new house. Connection comes and goes unpredictably, and when it is there it is very slow. It should have been fixed by now, but I have not seen any improvement so far.
For the moment, the only thing I can offer are my apologies for the delay and the screenshots above...
7 comments:
Dino, the screenshots are getting better and better every time:) I always jump in my chair when I see the blog updated with new screens :)) In this update, two of the shots are only small images, can you make them larger - I'd really like to see the one with the cockpit in more detail...
A bit off topic but useful info for the Carrier Version from pilot comments after first flight 06 June 2010: http://alturl.com/fnsk
"Handling with landing gear down was a key focus of the first flight as the F-35C has a 30% larger wing and uprated flight controls to reduce takeoff and landing speeds compared with the other F-35 variants. Knowles says the aircraft approached at 135 kt., compared with 155 kt. for the smaller-winged F-35A and B variants at the same 40,000-lb. gross weight. Takeoff rotation speed was 15-20 kt. slower, he says.
&
The 57-min. first flight focused on gear-down handling and formation flying with the F/A-18 chase aircraft in “an early look at handling around the carrier”, says Knowles, adding “The approach was very stable, with good roll response.” [http://alturl.com/fnsk]
Hey Spaz, this is absolutely unbelievable - I just did a test with the beta 2, with 40,000 lb gross weight, and the aircraft holds 155 kts exactly at the center of the AOA bracket of 10.0 degrees :) That's amazing work! I am sure Dino will nail numbers for the F-35C as well when the time comes and it will be a joy to land on the carrier ;)
neutrino, good to know. I did not have time to go check. Agree that the flight characteristics are good but for F-35C - when it arrives - the ailerons could be more effective with faster roll rate at Optimum AoA airspeeds. Please? :-)
Reason? The aircraft always flies at Opt AoA during approach with the need to continually 'jink' (slight rapid roll to right and return) to the right to maintain angled deck centreline which is always moving away to the right during a carrier approach. This quick roll right and then straighten up cannot be avoided. Part of the carrier landing deal.
@ SpazSinbad & Neutrino
Rest assured that the ailerons dynamics will change (for the better I hope) a little bit :-)
As for the F-35C itself, I don't know... there is much more work than it seems - blending a bigger wing into the fuselage it is a big problem...
Dino, thanks for the aileron update for F-35A. Please work on the F-35C if/when you are able. With such good flying qualities I'm imagining that it will be easy to carrier land. At moment the F-35A is not so easy to 'carrier land' ashore using the Optimum AoA bracket because I'm guessing this model is not optimised for such a 'carrier approach' style; whereas by all reports now the F-35C is ideal (very stable with quick control response & powerful engine response).
What terrain is that you are using? It looks great!
Post a Comment