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LM F-35 Lightning II Flies Supersonic
Fort Worth TX (SPX) Nov 19, 2008 The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter flew supersonic for the first time yesterday, achieving another milestone. The aircraft accelerated to Mach 1.05, or about 680 miles per hour. The test validated the F-35 Lightning II's capability to operate beyond the speed of sound and was accomplished with a full internal load of inert or "dummy" weapons on the one-hour flight. "The F-35 transitioned from subsonic to supersonic just as our engineers and our computer modeling had predicted," said Jon Beesley, Lockheed Martin's chief F-35 test pilot. "I continue to be impressed with the aircraft's power and strong acceleration, and I'm pleased that its precise handling qualities are retained in supersonic flight, even with a payload of 5,400 pounds (2,450 kilograms) in the weapons bays." Beesley said it was also a significant achievement for a test aircraft to fly supersonic for the first time with the weight of a full internal load of weapons. The milestone was achieved on the 69th flight of F-35 aircraft AA-1. Beesley climbed to 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) and accelerated to Mach 1.05, or about 680 miles per hour, over a rural area in north Texas. The F-35 accomplished four transitions through the sound barrier, spending a total of eight minutes in supersonic flight. The flight was preceded by a high-subsonic mission earlier in the day. Future testing will gradually expand the flight envelope out to the aircraft's top speed of Mach 1.6, which the F-35 is designed to achieve with a full internal load of weapons.
related report According to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products Gun Systems Program Manager Howard Brott, "Our GAU-22/A gun system serves a vital role in the F-35 aircraft's tactical air-to-ground support capabilities. In addition, the 25mm GAU-22/A brings increased range in air-to-air engagements compared to the 20mm guns common on today's fighters. The gun system's high rate of fire and consistency are key features for future F-35 pilots, and its reliability contributes significantly to lower operating and aircraft maintenance costs." The F-35 Lightning II internal gun system is based on a derivative of General Dynamics' proven GAU-12/U 25mm Gatling gun. It will be used on the F-35 Conventional Take-off and Landing (CTOL) variant and will include the GAU-22/A gun and its associated components. General Dynamics is also developing an external gun system for other variants of the F-35. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Lockheed Martin The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com
Safer, More Reliable Electroshock Weapons
Gaithersburg MD (SPX) Nov 19, 2008Electroshock weapons - such as stun guns and other similar devices that temporarily incapacitate a person by delivering a high-voltage, low-current electric shock - have helped law enforcement officers safely subdue dangerous or violent persons for years. |
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