The F-35B Lightning II is the STOVL variant of the F-35, which is being purchased by the UK and will operate from the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. In 2015, the F-35 Integrated Test Force at NAS Patuxent River, USA conducted the first ski jump launches of the F-35B. These launches, which used a land based ramp, formed part of the preparation for forthcoming trials on the UK’s new ski jump equipped ships.
RAeS Evening Lecture
F-35 Ski Jump Testing – Gordon Stewart
The F-35B Lightning II is the STOVL variant of the F-35, which is being purchased by the UK and will operate from the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. In 2015, the F-35 Integrated Test Force at NAS Patuxent River, USA conducted the first ski jump launches of the F-35B. These launches, which used a land based ramp, formed part of the preparation for forthcoming trials on the UK’s new ski jump equipped ships.
This presentation will describe the first phase of F-35B ski jump testing, which was conducted by the joint UK/US team at Patuxent River. It will discuss the preparation for the first F-35B ski jump launch, the conduct of the testing itself, and give an overview of the initial test results. Among the lessons learned which will be discussed are the importance of simulation for test planning and mission rehearsal, but also why, even with excellent modelling capability, you shouldn’t put ultimate faith in the predictions.
Gordon Stewart is a Flight Test Engineer working for QinetiQ at MOD Boscombe Down. He has spent much of the last 20 years involved in the flying qualities testing of STOVL aircraft, including Harrier, Sea Harrier and F-35B. He has also worked as a Flight Test Engineer on Fast Jet Test Squadron, and as a tutor at the Empire Test Pilots’ School.
From 2012 to 2016, Gordon worked as a Flying Qualities Engineer at the F-35 Integrated Test Force on behalf of the UK MOD. He was the lead Flying Qualities engineer for the planning and execution of the initial phase of F-35 ski jump testing. Gordon has also conducted F-35B ship trials aboard USS Wasp and USS America, and he has been in the control room for 240 F-35 test missions.
VENUE
Lecture Hall
MOD Boscombe Down
Amesbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JF
17:00 – Tea and Coffee available
17:15 – Lecture Starts
For further details, contact our Lecture Secretary Sam Gibbons on 01980 664406.
All Welcome You do not need to be a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society to attend!
External members need to declare their intention to attend our lectures by emailing the Members Secretary (members@BoscombeDownRAeS.org) or by calling Peter Richards on on 01980 662536.
Are you pursuing CEng, IEng or EngTech status? Attendance at our lectures will help you meet your CPD requirements, and certificates of attendance will be provided!