February 4, 2024 | International, Aerospace
September 19, 2018 | International, Aerospace
F-35 stress tests raise possibility of longer service life
SOURCE: FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM, BY: GARRETT REIM
After completing static, drop and durability testing on the F-35A, Lockheed Martin believes that early results indicate potential for an increased service life certification of the stealth fighter.
The F-35's service lifetime is designed to be 8,000h, but each test airframe is required to successfully complete two lifetimes of testing, the equivalent of 16,000h. The F-35A exceeded the requirement by completing three full lifetimes of testing, 24,000h, prompting Lockheed to moot the potential service-life extension.
“We look forward to analyzing the results and bringing forward the data to potentially extend the aircraft's lifetime certification even further,” said Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. “Already certified for one of the longest lifetimes of any fighter, an increase would greatly reduce future costs for all F-35 customers over several decades to come.”
The USAF plans to fly the F-35A until at least 2070, so a longer lifespan per aircraft may allow the service to reach that goal without having to purchase new fighters. However, as aircraft age they become more expensive to maintain and operate, making it unclear if a service life extension of the F-35A would be economical.
The F-35A airframe completed its testing at BAE Systems in Brough, England. The F-35B and C variants were tested at Lockheed Martin's facility in Fort Worth, Texas, though the company did not release the results for those variants. All variants will eventually undergo final teardown inspections at the National Institute for Aviation Research in Wichita, Kansas.
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November 15, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Can you solve our new waste reduction challenge? / Pouvez-vous résoudre notre nouveau défi sur la réduction des déchets?
Cost and Waste Reduction of Tree Planting Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is seeking a solution that will develop novel processes, approaches and/or technologies, to reduce the cost of tree seedling production, packaging and transportation while also reducing the amount of waste including plastic waste currently generated. Think you can solve our new waste reduction challenge? Compete for funding to prove your feasibility and develop a solution! This challenge closes December 21st, 2021 at 2pm EST! Apply online Réduction des coûts et des déchets dans la plantation d'arbres Ressources naturelles Canada (RNCan) est à la recherche d'une solution qui permettra d'élaborer de nouveaux processus, approches et/ou technologies afin de réduire le coût de production, d'emballage et de transport des semis d'arbres tout en réduisant la quantité de déchets, notamment des déchets de plastique actuellement produits. Vous pensez pouvoir résoudre notre nouveau défi sur la réduction des déchets ? Compétitionnez afin de prouver la faisabilité de votre solution et de la développer ! Ce défi se termine le 21 decembre, 2021 à 14h HNE. Postulez en ligne
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February 18, 2021 | International, Naval
PBO report on Canadian Surface Combatant to be released Feb. 24
The PBO study comes at the request of the Commons government operations committee, which wanted the latest cost figures on the CSC project.