F-35 Nickname?

[WhiskeySierra6]

Does a -53 really need to refuel to go 165 miles?

granted, it's a lot of drag, but the google machine says it can go 600+ NM

maybe they wanted to test the capability?

I think it had something to do with the additional 20K+ lbs it had with it.

 

[JTS11]

Does a -53 really need to refuel to go 165 miles?

granted, it's a lot of drag, but the google machine says it can go 600+ NM

maybe they wanted to test the capability?

Yeah, I'm guessing they wanted the photo. Not sure how much that F-35 weighed, but I believe it didn't have an engine? Without googling, I'm guessing it could handle 165NM ok...

I just googled and it said an empty F-35 was around 30k. Not sure what the engine weighs on one of those things. I'm guessing just a 'lil bit.

 

[mmx1]

Also, “easier” to get 2 hours of gas at altitude than try to lift it from the deck with the payload. If you’re maxing out your load capacity in a HOGE, you’re probably not going to be bringing much gas to the extraction.

 

[Mos]

The next step is strapping a pilot in the fighter and then doing an engine start and release while airborne. There's gotta be a use case for that somewhere. 😁

 

[Hair Warrior]

The next step is strapping a pilot in the fighter and then doing an engine start and release while airborne. There's gotta be a use case for that somewhere. 😁

I think they did that in Planes: Fire & Rescue

 

[WhiskeySierra6]

Yeah, I'm guessing they wanted the photo. Not sure how much that F-35 weighed, but I believe it didn't have an engine? Without googling, I'm guessing it could handle 165NM ok...

I just googled and it said an empty F-35 was around 30k. Not sure what the engine weighs on one of those things. I'm guessing just a 'lil bit.

It's right around 21K. No motor, no mission systems, no outer wing panels.

 

[JTS11]

It's right around 21K. No motor, no mission systems, no outer wing panels.

Not trying to turn this into a heavy lift thread, but with that weight I believe a K could carry that load from Pax to Lakehurst without refueling if necessary, and no wx considerations.

But why not hit a tanker...that dual-pointed load is flying steady at the standard helo AR speed. Maybe demonstrate a capability for a relatively new airframe, maybe provide more flexibility for the overall mission?

Either way, pretty cool IMO.

 

[WhiskeySierra6]

Not trying to turn this into a heavy lift thread, but with that weight I believe a K could carry that load from Pax to Lakehurst without refueling if necessary, and no wx considerations.

But why not hit a tanker...that dual-pointed load is flying steady at the standard helo AR speed. Maybe demonstrate a capability for a relatively new airframe, maybe provide more flexibility for the overall mission?

Either way, pretty cool IMO.

This is 2nd hand info but I believe they did get some test points out of the evolution. They also hot pitted on the back side so less time on deck if you come with more gas to begin with.

 

[Griz882]

The next step is strapping a pilot in the fighter and then doing an engine start and release while airborne. There's gotta be a use case for that somewhere. 😁

Tried it…pretty cool…I say “Do it!”