Northrop Grumman has started building the center fuselage for the first international F-35 -- BK-1, ordered by the United Kingdom. In hono(u)r of the occasion, I build a flow-chart based on Lockheed Martin images showing 12 major steps in the center fuselage assembly process. Note: The chart describes the conventional take-off and landing variants center fuselage, but BK-1 is a short-takeoff-vertical-landing version.
on November 1, 2009 6:50 PM | Reply
Has anyone else heard that the British might be canceling the STOVL F-35B in favor of the F-35C carrier version? See http://www.f-16.net/news_article3712.html
They've already cut back their aircraft carriers see
http://ericpalmer.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/u-k-carrier-down/
on November 2, 2009 8:57 AM | Reply
F-35 total may be cut by half, report says
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/10/marine_f35_103109w/
And so it begins.
on November 2, 2009 11:51 AM | Reply
UK numbers have previously been given as about 150 or more recently 138, but as the F-35 is going to be replacing a Harrier fleet of only about 75 aircraft those numbers look very optimistic.
Talk of liking the C variant has been about for years (what's not to like: longer range and more internal payload), but they really do seem to be sold on STOVL ultimately because of the CVF carrier design.
There's loads of nonsense being spoken about CVF at the moment, but if it really is at risk then STOVL has to be the way to go due to smaller vessel size. Watch the promised Strategic Defence Review from next year for a clearer idea.