FORT WORTH, Texas, April 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Lockheed
Martin (NYSE: LMT) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter team successfully completed
structural- coupling testing five days ahead of schedule on the first F-35,
and moved on to the next scheduled series of ground tests. The F-35's first
flight is planned for this fall.
"All of the test results were within the expected range -- an excellent
indication we thoroughly understand the flight-control system and the
aircraft's structural response to flight-control inputs," said Dan Crowley,
Lockheed Martin executive vice president and JSF program general manager.
The testing concluded on April 2 and measured the aircraft's structural
response to specific flight-control movements. "Flight controls can move
very rapidly and generate very large forces that must be passed through the
aircraft structure; for every action there is a reaction," said Doug
Pearson, Lockheed Martin vice president of the F-35 Integrated Test Force.
"Therefore, we need to know exactly how the aircraft structure reacts to a
given dynamic flight-control input."
During structural-coupling testing, a wide range of specific flight-
control movements are initiated using the on-board aircraft flight-control
system. Based on the data collected during the testing, engineers can
"tune" the flight-control system to eliminate responses that could
potentially damage the aircraft structure. The tuned flight-control system
is transparent to the pilot and ensures that the system will be responsive
to his or her demands. The test team evaluated eight different F-35 fuel-
and weapons-load configurations. The aircraft's two internal weapons bays
were fully loaded with inert bombs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions) and
air-to-air missiles for the first time, and the weapons-bay doors were
opened and closed repeatedly.
F-35 ground vibration testing started on April 11 and involves the use
of shaking devices that place loads and movements on flight-control
surfaces, and measure the aircraft's response. The first round of ground
tests involved a thorough checkout of the F-35's fuel system during which
time no leaks were detected -- a first for a modern fighter.
The stealthy F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5TH Generation fighter
designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8B
Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and
Sea Harriers.
Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial
partners, Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and BAE Systems. Two separate,
interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney
F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136. Each power plant
produces 40,000 pounds of thrust, making the F-35 the most powerful
single-engine fighter ever. Four F-35 aircraft are currently in assembly,
with 15 scheduled to fly during the aircraft's test program.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced
technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005
sales of $37.2 billion.
For additional information, visit our Web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com
SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
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CONTACT:
John R. Kent, +1-817-763-3980, or
john.r.kent@lmco.com , or John Smith, +1-817-763-4084, or
john.a1.smith@lmco.com , both of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Company
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