We could learn as early as this week what the Pentagon plans to do in a bid to prevent the F-35 development program going massively over budget and schedule. Acquisition chief Ashton Carter met with program officials over the weekend and the prevailing rumor going in was that the Pentagon would add money and aircraft in Fiscal 2011 to accelerate flight testing and get the program back on track to complete development in 2013.
Remember that two aircraft were removed from the flight-test program two years ago as part of a "mid-course review" that increased reliance on integration labs and flying testbeds. The mission-system test aircraft were cut to replenish the management reserve within the program budget, which had been eroded by the SWAT redesign, assembly delays and other issues.
Even if the Pentagon adds money and aircraft to the test program, don't expect any sudden acceleration. Lockheed Martin still has to get all the test aircraft flying - and keep them flying, which has so far not proved that easy. No sooner had the first F-35B arrived at Pax River on Nov. 15 to begin STOVL flight testing when the aircraft went down for 10-12 days' maintenance to remove and replace the time-expired transparency-removal detonation chord bonded to the canopy. The down time was anticipated, and the work planned for Pax, says Lockheed.
Canopy chord keeps BF-1 grounded. (Photo: JPO)
Diverting early production aircraft to the test program would seem likely to impact the build-up of the training unit at Elgin, which is scheduled to receive its first CTOL F-35As in July 2010. But one report suggests the additional test aircraft would be Navy carrier-capable F-35Cs, the final version to fly and last to enter service. That would add mission-system test aircraft only towards the end of the development program, but would avoid impacting training, which has to start in 2010 to meet the Marine Corps' 2012 initial operational capability deadline.
"...the aircraft went down for 10-12 days' maintenance to remove and replace the time-expired transparency-removal detonation chord bonded to the canopy" (!!!) Some smart ideas needed...
But..."The down time was anticipated, and the work planned for Pax, says Lockheed." those ideas appear to be lacking. Unless there is more to the delay than just a chord replacement.
DOD Buzz article By Colin Clark; BF-01, there was a fuel problem Tuesday at Patuxent. They found a problem with a fuel shutoff valve. They decided the aircraft cannot fly with this and need to change the valve. That requires engine removal. Engine inlet rake was going to stop them before they could finish all 14 flights to VL, they decided to do it concurrent with the engine R/R. Additionally the aircraft will undergo the removal and replacement of the transparency removal system (TRS) detonation cord which is bonded to the canopy. Maintenance for both is a 10-to-12 day operation. Additionally, maintainers will take advantage of the down-time to perform other maintenance on the jet. Return to flight is planned for the week of Dec. 7. Time is getting short for the build down for vertical landing, this year.
As soon as the plane touched down at Pax River the rumors started that serous problems had occurred during the flight. There is more going on here then LM is talking about.
They do indeed seem to be releasing information incrementally. My version of Lockheed's statement from Friday makes no mention of the fuel system issue. Their statement to DoD Buzz is almost identical, but adds a reference to the fuel system -presumably because he already knew about it!
Judge for yourselves. Here's what I got late Friday night (while at a Robin Williams show):
"F-35 BF-1 is undergoing scheduled maintenance at NAS Patuxent River, Md., prior to the initiation of flight test activities there. The aircraft will undergo the removal and replacement of the transparency removal system (TRS) detonation cord which is bonded to the canopy. This is a required process driven by the expiration of the canopy's detonation-cord material (the detonation cord helps remove the canopy from the pilot's path during an ejection). The process of the removal and replacement of the TRS is a 10-to-12 day operation. Additionally, maintainers will take advantage of the down-time to perform other maintenance on the jet. Return to flight is planned for the week of Dec. 7."
Here's what DoD Buzz published on Monday:
F-35 BF-1 is undergoing required maintenance.& During normal ground operations the crew observed a partial malfunction of a component in the fuel system that manages distribution of onboard fuel. Additionally the aircraft will undergo the removal and replacement of the transparency removal system (TRS) detonation cord which is bonded to the canopy. This is a required process driven by the Nov. 25 expiration date of the canopys detonation-cord material (the detonation cord helps remove the canopy from the pilots path during an ejection). Maintenance for both is a 10-to-12 day operation. Additionally, maintainers will take advantage of the down-time to perform other maintenance on the jet. Return to flight is planned for the week of Dec. 7.
Some smart ideas needed...
those ideas appear to be lacking. Unless there is more to the delay than just a chord replacement.
Bulls***.
Did they really expect us to believe the TRS story...
well that article still claims TRS IS 10-12 days, just that there were other things as well
can someone explain how TRS replacement is a 10-12 day operation? that sounds . . . absurd.
is that just he cure time? or does it actually take that much work?
"well that article still claims TRS IS 10-12 days, just that there were other things as well"
Yes and I am 100% convinced that Graham would have relayed that other info to us had he received it.
The big issue was never the TRS but it sure looks like that was the message LM tried to tell some key individuals in the media.
Old fashioned half-truth I.E damage control.
Judge for yourselves. Here's what I got late Friday night (while at a Robin Williams show):
"F-35 BF-1 is undergoing scheduled maintenance at NAS Patuxent River, Md., prior to the initiation of flight test activities there. The aircraft will undergo the removal and replacement of the transparency removal system (TRS) detonation cord which is bonded to the canopy. This is a required process driven by the expiration of the canopy's detonation-cord material (the detonation cord helps remove the canopy from the pilot's path during an ejection). The process of the removal and replacement of the TRS is a 10-to-12 day operation. Additionally, maintainers will take advantage of the down-time to perform other maintenance on the jet. Return to flight is planned for the week of Dec. 7."
Here's what DoD Buzz published on Monday:
F-35 BF-1 is undergoing required maintenance.& During normal ground operations the crew observed a partial malfunction of a component in the fuel system that manages distribution of onboard fuel. Additionally the aircraft will undergo the removal and replacement of the transparency removal system (TRS) detonation cord which is bonded to the canopy. This is a required process driven by the Nov. 25 expiration date of the canopys detonation-cord material (the detonation cord helps remove the canopy from the pilots path during an ejection). Maintenance for both is a 10-to-12 day operation. Additionally, maintainers will take advantage of the down-time to perform other maintenance on the jet. Return to flight is planned for the week of Dec. 7.