Lockheed Martin is claiming that all three versions of the F-35 Joint
Strike Fighter (JSF) will have kinematic performance better than or
equal to any combat-configured fourth-generation fighter. The
comparison includes transonic acceleration performance versus an
air-to-air configured Eurofighter Typhoon and high angle-of-attack
flight performance vis-à-vis the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Strike Fighter (JSF) will have kinematic performance better than or
equal to any combat-configured fourth-generation fighter. The
comparison includes transonic acceleration performance versus an
air-to-air configured Eurofighter Typhoon and high angle-of-attack
flight performance vis-à-vis the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
"The F-35 is comparable or better in every one of those metrics,
sometimes by a significant margin, in both air-to-air, and when we
hog-up those fourth-generation fighters, for the air-to-ground
mission," says Billy Flynn, a Lockheed test pilot who is responsible
for flight envelope expansion activities for all three variants.
sometimes by a significant margin, in both air-to-air, and when we
hog-up those fourth-generation fighters, for the air-to-ground
mission," says Billy Flynn, a Lockheed test pilot who is responsible
for flight envelope expansion activities for all three variants.
But the Lockheed claims are strongly disputed by other sources,
including one veteran Super Hornet test pilot with thousands of
hours in that aircraft. "These claims are technically
inaccurate from my point of view as a professional test pilot,"
he says. "An aircraft with small control surfaces intended
for stealth cannot produce such fantastical results in
maneuverability; a little wing cannot produce a lot of lift,
period."
including one veteran Super Hornet test pilot with thousands of
hours in that aircraft. "These claims are technically
inaccurate from my point of view as a professional test pilot,"
he says. "An aircraft with small control surfaces intended
for stealth cannot produce such fantastical results in
maneuverability; a little wing cannot produce a lot of lift,
period."
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Flynn says "that the F-35 can go out on any given day, and we
have, gone to the red line of the airplane" with a full internal
weapons load. Going to the limits of the aircraft's envelope
with a full load of weapons is "inconceivable in any of the
other fourth-generation airplanes,including Typhoon, which
most would say has the best performance of those four fourth-
gen jets," says Flynn, who is a former test pilot for the
Eurofighter and Lockheed F-16. All variants of the F-35 are capable
of flying at Mach 1.6 and 50° angle-of-attack, he says. The
A and C models have a maximum speed of 700 knots calibrated
airspeed (KCAS-1296 km/h) while the F-35B can fly at 630
KCAS (1167 Km/h). The A, B and C variant are rated at 9g,
7g and 7.5g's respectively.
have, gone to the red line of the airplane" with a full internal
weapons load. Going to the limits of the aircraft's envelope
with a full load of weapons is "inconceivable in any of the
other fourth-generation airplanes,including Typhoon, which
most would say has the best performance of those four fourth-
gen jets," says Flynn, who is a former test pilot for the
Eurofighter and Lockheed F-16. All variants of the F-35 are capable
of flying at Mach 1.6 and 50° angle-of-attack, he says. The
A and C models have a maximum speed of 700 knots calibrated
airspeed (KCAS-1296 km/h) while the F-35B can fly at 630
KCAS (1167 Km/h). The A, B and C variant are rated at 9g,
7g and 7.5g's respectively.
But at issue is exactly what constitutes a combat load out. An F-35 l
oadedup with two 2000lbs bombs and two air-to-air missiles
internally is notcarrying an equivalent payload to a Eurofighter
Typhoon with four 2000lbs bombs and five air-to-air missiles
or a Super Hornet armed with a mix of bombs and air-to-air
missiles. "What was the combat load out?" the Super
Hornet pilot asks. "If you compare apples and oranges --you can make
claims like that." One highly experienced pilot flying the Lockheed F-22
Raptor adds, "They need to compare the performances based on similar
amounts of ordnance carriage."
oadedup with two 2000lbs bombs and two air-to-air missiles
internally is notcarrying an equivalent payload to a Eurofighter
Typhoon with four 2000lbs bombs and five air-to-air missiles
or a Super Hornet armed with a mix of bombs and air-to-air
missiles. "What was the combat load out?" the Super
Hornet pilot asks. "If you compare apples and oranges --you can make
claims like that." One highly experienced pilot flying the Lockheed F-22
Raptor adds, "They need to compare the performances based on similar
amounts of ordnance carriage."
Another point that must be considered, however, is that the F-35 will
only be relying on its internal weapons payload during operations
against a very robust threat environment. "Internal carriage is only
required if you need the stealth," another F-22 pilot says. "At which
point a fourth generation jet may not even be able to deliver on the
target."
only be relying on its internal weapons payload during operations
against a very robust threat environment. "Internal carriage is only
required if you need the stealth," another F-22 pilot says. "At which
point a fourth generation jet may not even be able to deliver on the
target."
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Stealth is a point that Lockheed emphasizes. "The game-changer
is stealth," Flynn says. "No one is going to see us coming or going."
But exactly how many targets an F-35 could attack with its internal
tory on how many targets the F-35 could hit with the limited internal
carry versus the fourth-gen plus jets," the second Raptor pilot says.
is stealth," Flynn says. "No one is going to see us coming or going."
But exactly how many targets an F-35 could attack with its internal
tory on how many targets the F-35 could hit with the limited internal
carry versus the fourth-gen plus jets," the second Raptor pilot says.
Asked to address the issue of transonic acceleration compared
to the best performing fourth-generation machines, in this case
an air-to-air configured Typhoon, Flynn reiterated that the F-35
was better than or equal to that aircraft. Even with the reduced
transonic acceleration times mentioned in the Pentagon's director
of operational test and evaluation 2012 report, the F-35, including
the C-model which had its specifications reduced by 43 seconds,
still out accelerates competing aircraft in a combat configuration,
he says.
to the best performing fourth-generation machines, in this case
an air-to-air configured Typhoon, Flynn reiterated that the F-35
was better than or equal to that aircraft. Even with the reduced
transonic acceleration times mentioned in the Pentagon's director
of operational test and evaluation 2012 report, the F-35, including
the C-model which had its specifications reduced by 43 seconds,
still out accelerates competing aircraft in a combat configuration,
he says.
But others are skeptical. "Forty-three seconds tells me there is a
massive decrease in the expected performance because of some
serious shortcomings," the Super Hornet pilot says. "How that's
parlayedinto 'we're better than the rest of the world combined'
on every measure, I don't know, and I don't believe it." More
important is the question of how the reduction in performance
impacts aircraft survivability. "So what if you can accelerate
better than a [F-16] Viper or Typhoon, canyou live against
an SA-20?" asks the second F-22 pilot.
massive decrease in the expected performance because of some
serious shortcomings," the Super Hornet pilot says. "How that's
parlayedinto 'we're better than the rest of the world combined'
on every measure, I don't know, and I don't believe it." More
important is the question of how the reduction in performance
impacts aircraft survivability. "So what if you can accelerate
better than a [F-16] Viper or Typhoon, canyou live against
an SA-20?" asks the second F-22 pilot.
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If one were to overlay the energy-maneuverability (E-M) diagrams
for the F/A-18, F-16 or Typhoon over the F-35's, "It is better.
Comparable or better than every Western fourth-generation fighter
out there," Flynn says. That applies even to the F-35 B and C models
with their respective 7g and 7.5g limits. "You're not going to see any
measurable difference between the aircraft," Flynn says. In terms of
instantaneous and sustained turn rates and just about every other
performance metric, the F-35 variants match or considerably exceed
the capabilities of every fourth-generation fighter, he says.
for the F/A-18, F-16 or Typhoon over the F-35's, "It is better.
Comparable or better than every Western fourth-generation fighter
out there," Flynn says. That applies even to the F-35 B and C models
with their respective 7g and 7.5g limits. "You're not going to see any
measurable difference between the aircraft," Flynn says. In terms of
instantaneous and sustained turn rates and just about every other
performance metric, the F-35 variants match or considerably exceed
the capabilities of every fourth-generation fighter, he says.
The first F-22 pilot says he is surprised to hear that there are already
E-M diagrams available. "The reality is that I would be floored if they
had accurate E-M diagrams right now," he says. "They are probably
computer generated, and very inaccurate. Also, 'real' E-M diagrams
come from OT/DT [operational test/developmental test], not the
contractor."
E-M diagrams available. "The reality is that I would be floored if they
had accurate E-M diagrams right now," he says. "They are probably
computer generated, and very inaccurate. Also, 'real' E-M diagrams
come from OT/DT [operational test/developmental test], not the
contractor."
In terms of high angle of attack (AOA) performance, Flynn says the
F-35 is better than the BoeingF/A-18E/F, even though the Super
Hornet is capable of reaching higher angles than the JSF's limit of
50°. "We are better than any airplane out there," says Flynn, a
veteran Canadian Forces CF-18 Hornet pilot who has also
lown thrust-vectored prototype variants of the F-16 and F/A-18
Hornet atNASA. "You can go tohigher degrees of angle-of-
attack in the F/A-18, the flight control system will not limit you,
but that's not necessarily controlled flight." In the F/A-18,
Flynn says that past 50° there is a lot of very violent buffeting.
F-35 is better than the BoeingF/A-18E/F, even though the Super
Hornet is capable of reaching higher angles than the JSF's limit of
50°. "We are better than any airplane out there," says Flynn, a
veteran Canadian Forces CF-18 Hornet pilot who has also
lown thrust-vectored prototype variants of the F-16 and F/A-18
Hornet atNASA. "You can go tohigher degrees of angle-of-
attack in the F/A-18, the flight control system will not limit you,
but that's not necessarily controlled flight." In the F/A-18,
Flynn says that past 50° there is a lot of very violent buffeting.
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"You maneuver the airplane much like an F-22 or a lot like I maneuvered
the prototype F-16 20 years ago with thrust vectoring," Flynn says.
"You maneuver the airplane back and forth with amazing controllability
at the highest degree of angle-of-attack, and that is not the case with
the only other Western airplane that can go to high AOA, the F/A-18."
The one other exception is the Raptor, which Flynn does acknowledge
as having better high AOA performance than the F-35 due to its thrust
vectoring capability. The Typhoon, by comparison, has a 25° AOA limit.
In the F-35, Lockheed made the decision to limit the AOA to 50°, but
test pilots have flown the aircraft well past that.
the prototype F-16 20 years ago with thrust vectoring," Flynn says.
"You maneuver the airplane back and forth with amazing controllability
at the highest degree of angle-of-attack, and that is not the case with
the only other Western airplane that can go to high AOA, the F/A-18."
The one other exception is the Raptor, which Flynn does acknowledge
as having better high AOA performance than the F-35 due to its thrust
vectoring capability. The Typhoon, by comparison, has a 25° AOA limit.
In the F-35, Lockheed made the decision to limit the AOA to 50°, but
test pilots have flown the aircraft well past that.
The high AOA limit gives the F-35 "great" instantaneous turn
performance.
"We knew that 50°, from our years of research, is about as far as you
need to go to take advantage of the aerodynamic performance" of the jet,
Flynn says. "There is no reason to be there [at extreme AOA]; you're not
going to get much more capability at 75° than you would at 50°." The limiter
will allow an F-35 pilot to fly with "reckless abandon", which Flynn says is
not possible in a Hornet because an F/A-18 can depart from controlled flight.
performance.
"We knew that 50°, from our years of research, is about as far as you
need to go to take advantage of the aerodynamic performance" of the jet,
Flynn says. "There is no reason to be there [at extreme AOA]; you're not
going to get much more capability at 75° than you would at 50°." The limiter
will allow an F-35 pilot to fly with "reckless abandon", which Flynn says is
not possible in a Hornet because an F/A-18 can depart from controlled flight.
Both Raptor pilots take strong exception to the phrase "reckless abandon"
that Flynn uses. The same terminology was used in the F-22 Dash-1
manual until one particular incident where a Raptor pilot experienced an
"inverted spiral". Both say using the phrase is a serious mistake.
that Flynn uses. The same terminology was used in the F-22 Dash-1
manual until one particular incident where a Raptor pilot experienced an
"inverted spiral". Both say using the phrase is a serious mistake.
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US Navy
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The Super Hornet test pilot, who also has thousands of hours in the
older A to D model Hornets, refutes Flynn's statement as dated. He
clarifies that early model F/A-18 Hornets could depart from controlled
flight if maneuvered very aggressively at high AOA with a heavy external
weapons load back during the 1980s. Subsequent updates to the
flight control system, particularly the 10.7 software load, "has
made all the older Hornets extremely robust and very
maneuverable and with a great deal of departure resistance,"
he says.
older A to D model Hornets, refutes Flynn's statement as dated. He
clarifies that early model F/A-18 Hornets could depart from controlled
flight if maneuvered very aggressively at high AOA with a heavy external
weapons load back during the 1980s. Subsequent updates to the
flight control system, particularly the 10.7 software load, "has
made all the older Hornets extremely robust and very
maneuverable and with a great deal of departure resistance,"
he says.
The Super Hornet has always been extremely capable at high angles of
attack right from the outset. "We have no angle of attack limits in any s
ymmetric configuration, and we can maneuver without any lateral stick
or pedal input limitations at any angle of attack. The Super Hornet still
has complete roll control at 50° AOA and has demonstrated
this many times while flying at low altitude with a full combat
load because there is no departure issue," the Super Hornet
pilot says.
attack right from the outset. "We have no angle of attack limits in any s
ymmetric configuration, and we can maneuver without any lateral stick
or pedal input limitations at any angle of attack. The Super Hornet still
has complete roll control at 50° AOA and has demonstrated
this many times while flying at low altitude with a full combat
load because there is no departure issue," the Super Hornet
pilot says.
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Lockheed declined to compare F-35 performance to clean configuration
fourth-generation fighters saying such comparisons are irrelevant. "This
omparison doesn't mean much, because a clean fourth-gen isn't carrying
weapons," the second F-22 pilot says. The assumption for such a
comparison would mean that a fourth generation fighter was forced to
jettison its weapons and, if taken literally, its weapons pylons too. "Losing
pylons is not a good thing during a protracted air campaign," he says
fourth-generation fighters saying such comparisons are irrelevant. "This
omparison doesn't mean much, because a clean fourth-gen isn't carrying
weapons," the second F-22 pilot says. The assumption for such a
comparison would mean that a fourth generation fighter was forced to
jettison its weapons and, if taken literally, its weapons pylons too. "Losing
pylons is not a good thing during a protracted air campaign," he says
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