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June 12, 2008 Pratt & Whitney engine setbacks put project behind schedule
By Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg News
The most advanced version of Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon's costliest weapons program, made its first flight Wednesday.
This milestone triggers the award of a $1.3 billion contract for the first six production models of the short-takeoff, vertical-landing aircraft, Brigadier Gen. David Heinz, the deputy program manager, said in a conference call with reporters.
The flight's purpose was to check out basic characteristics, including engines and flying qualities. "Everything has gone absolutely according to plan," said Lockheed test pilot Graham Tomlinson, who also was on the call.
This version of the plane, the F-35B, is for use on amphibious warfare vessels and aircraft carriers. It's to be the first of the three F-35 variants to achieve initial operational combat capability, beginning with the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012. The plane also will be used by the U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and Italy's air force and navy.
Wednesday's first flight was delayed about two weeks from a schedule laid out in 2006. The Pentagon anticipated a longer delay because of failures in August and February with the engine produced by United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney unit. The F-35B's first of 20 test flights will come between January and March of next year, Lockheed Martin said.
Pentagon Undersecretary for Acquisition John Young said the $298.8 billion F-35 program "has many more steps ahead, but today's flight demonstrates the maturity and progress being made."
The F-35 program "is ahead of similar programs in terms of quality, software, testing and manufacturing readiness," Young said in a statement.
June 12, 2008 Pratt & Whitney engine setbacks put project behind schedule
By Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg News
The most advanced version of Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon's costliest weapons program, made its first flight Wednesday.
This milestone triggers the award of a $1.3 billion contract for the first six production models of the short-takeoff, vertical-landing aircraft, Brigadier Gen. David Heinz, the deputy program manager, said in a conference call with reporters.
The flight's purpose was to check out basic characteristics, including engines and flying qualities. "Everything has gone absolutely according to plan," said Lockheed test pilot Graham Tomlinson, who also was on the call.
This version of the plane, the F-35B, is for use on amphibious warfare vessels and aircraft carriers. It's to be the first of the three F-35 variants to achieve initial operational combat capability, beginning with the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012. The plane also will be used by the U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and Italy's air force and navy.
Wednesday's first flight was delayed about two weeks from a schedule laid out in 2006. The Pentagon anticipated a longer delay because of failures in August and February with the engine produced by United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney unit. The F-35B's first of 20 test flights will come between January and March of next year, Lockheed Martin said.
Pentagon Undersecretary for Acquisition John Young said the $298.8 billion F-35 program "has many more steps ahead, but today's flight demonstrates the maturity and progress being made."
The F-35 program "is ahead of similar programs in terms of quality, software, testing and manufacturing readiness," Young said in a statement.