Hardrock69
02-22-2006, 05:10 PM
Some images have shown up on flickr of the first production Lockheed Martin F-35 to come off the line. The X-35 (now designated F-35) was the winner of the US Defense Department's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program – Boeing's X-32 prototype came up a bit short.
The F-35 is a multi-role airframe designed to replace the AV-8B Harrier, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon/Viper. The F-35 will be available in three variants:
* F-35A: Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL)
* F-35B: Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL)
* F-35C: Carrier Based Variant (CV)
The F-35A will be the lightest of the bunch as it is the most conventional design. It will take off and land like a typical modern day fighter (i.e. F-22 Raptor). The F-35B will be the most complex design as it will have an exhaust nozzle that can rotate down 90 degrees and can be used in conjunction with a lift fan located behind the cockpit to accomplish short take-offs and landings. The F-35C variant is destined to naval service and will feature larger wings and control surfaces along with a beefed up undercarriage to handle carrier duties.
You can read more about the F-35 and the Joint Strike Fighter program HERE (http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=11173&sc=400)
http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/565_large_x35_1.jpg http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/566_large_x35_2.jpg
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=927
The F-35 is a multi-role airframe designed to replace the AV-8B Harrier, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon/Viper. The F-35 will be available in three variants:
* F-35A: Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL)
* F-35B: Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL)
* F-35C: Carrier Based Variant (CV)
The F-35A will be the lightest of the bunch as it is the most conventional design. It will take off and land like a typical modern day fighter (i.e. F-22 Raptor). The F-35B will be the most complex design as it will have an exhaust nozzle that can rotate down 90 degrees and can be used in conjunction with a lift fan located behind the cockpit to accomplish short take-offs and landings. The F-35C variant is destined to naval service and will feature larger wings and control surfaces along with a beefed up undercarriage to handle carrier duties.
You can read more about the F-35 and the Joint Strike Fighter program HERE (http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=11173&sc=400)
http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/565_large_x35_1.jpg http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/566_large_x35_2.jpg
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=927