VSTOL F-35B: Still in the Woods, But No Longer Lost
The Lockheed Martin F-35B VSTOL version of the Joint Strike Fighter has recently received a panning from the UK popular media as being "too heavy to takeoff," but this version, some 150 of which are being obtained for the RAF and Royal Navy, is no longer a matter for concern to the company.
Speaking at the show yesterday, Dain Hancock, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, confirmed that the fixes required to get the F-35B back on target have been identified by recent changes in the internal structure of the aircraft, the outside appearance remaining much as before. The requirement has been to "save" 3,000 pounds by reducing structure weight and/or increasing the thrust delivered by the engines and the geared fan, which provides vertical lift at appropriate times.
Intimating that it will be a little of each that delivers the desired results, Hancock confirmed "we know how to redesign" the F-35B, acknowledging that the priority is now to do it. The previous "mark time" order for F-35B development has been rescinded and a 2007 first flight date is now penciled in.
