Next F-35s Across the Atlantic: Dutch F-35s to Fly from Edwards to the Netherlands

03/05/2016
2016-03-05 According to an article published by Edwards AFB on 2/24/2016: A Dutch F-35A Lightning II will touch down on home soil for the first time for environmental compatibility trials this spring according to a Royal Netherlands Air Force release. [caption id="attachment_85353" align="alignnone" width="300"] Two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A…

Edwards AFB Looks Back at F-35 ITF Testing in 2015

03/05/2016
2016-03-05 The F-35 Integrated Test Force is based at Pax River and Edwards AFB and is a completely integrated test effort. In our interview with Andrew Mack, ITF chief test engineer, at Pax River, he discussed how integrated the two teams were in practice> We talk and work together every…

First Arrestment of an F-35C with External Weapons Load

03/05/2016
2016-03-05  Lt. Cmdr. Daniel “Tonto” Kitts, an F-35 Lightning II test pilot assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, landed in the history books Feb. 10, 2016, when he performed the first arrestment of an F-35C with external weapons. Flight 282 of aircraft CF-03…

Working 4th/5th Generation Integration: F-35s from Edwards Come to Mountain Home AFB

03/05/2016
2016-03-05  According to an article published by Airman 1st Class Jessica Evans and published on February 22, 2016, Edwards has sent F-35s to the Mountain Home AFB to work integration with legacy aircraft. MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho - Six F-35As arrived at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Feb. 8,…

Australia to Build New Submarines: Part of the Strategic Quadrangle?

03/04/2016
2016-03-01 Part of the Australian re-set on defense is the construction of new submarines. And these submarines will carry combat systems, almost certainly American, designed to be software upgradeable, like the Wedgetail or F-35, to evolve over time and to connect more effectively with a better connected Australian Defence Force…

The Coming of the CH-53K to the Amphibious Force: How to Describe a New 21st Century Air Platform and Its Impact?

03/03/2016
2016-02-29  The venerable CH-53 has been a staple for Marines in providing heavy lift since the Vietnam War. The origins of the heavy lift helo is described by Wikipedia as follows: In 1960, the United States Marine Corps began to seek a replacement for their HR2S piston-powered helicopters. On 27 January 1961, the Marine Corps…

Rolling Out the F-35 Fleet from the Testing Perspective: An Interview with the Chief Test Engineer for the F-35 ITF at Pax River

03/02/2016
2016-02-27 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake During a recent visit to Pax River, we had the chance to discuss the F-35 test approach and way ahead with Andrew Maack. F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) chief test engineer. Although we were at Pax River, the F-35 ITF is rooted in…