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The multi-billion dollar JSF programme is to develop the 'next generation' strike fighter with versions for the USAF and USN (conventional), USMC, RAF and RN (ASTOVL). A competition was set up by the US Government, the final two competitors, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, to build demonstrator aircraft for a 'fly-off'.
When BAE Systems joined the Lockheed Martin JSF partnership Simon was chosen to lead the ASTOVL (Advanced Short Take Off & Vertical Landing) X-35B flight test team in California, joining BAES engineers already working on the project in Lockheed's famous "Skunk Works". This crucial programme was to demonstrate specified performance, handling and operational aspects in a compressed timescale of some six weeks in the summer of 2001.
Well illustrated with still and video material, Simon's talk took the audience through the complete programme from ground tests at Palmdale to the final flight from Edwards Airforce Base, covering in detail the problems that arose and the solutions implemented.
To those present who had been at Dunsfold in the early days of the P.1127, much of this had a nostalgic ring, heightened by the fact that the design of the VTOL grids used at Palmdale and Edwards was based on that installed at Dunsfold back in 1960. One big difference, though, was the huge thrust margin available from the F119 shaft driven lift fan propulsion system, so it was quite unnecessary to strip out the airframe as we had to with XP831!
Co-operation between the Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney, General Electric and Rolls-Royce had been exemplary with mutual trust and respect leading to quick decision making. However, the Contractor-to-US Government relationship was less happy due to the highly bureaucratic nature of the control process leading to inflexibility of approach. In spite of this, the programme was completed quickly with all major demonstration objectives achieved and the competitor, Boeing, vanquished. The eventual result will be the manufacture of thousands of aircraft by the industrial partners including, of course, BAES and Rolls Royce in the UK. Somewhat surprisingly, in view of some remaining development problems, particularly lift fan intake flow instability, the X-35B is being retired to the Smithsonian Museum.
The lecture was much enjoyed with many Association members present, including Duncan Simpson just back from his GAPAN world tour, and John Farley, also a consultant to the JSF programme.
RAeS Weybridge Branch lectures are open to all (£2 contribution) and Association Members are regular attendees. Why not come and hear Dick Poole remembering the Harrier Ski-Jump trials on 19th March at 6.30 pm?
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