BAE Systems has announced that the airframe of the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft has been subjected to eight thousand hours, or one complete lifetime of durability testing at its purpose built structural test rig at military aircraft site in Brough, Yorkshire.
Durability testing of the CTOL airframe was completed ahead of schedule, proving the airframe is able to handle a variety of flying conditions it will experience when in service. Work continues on schedule for proving the aircraft for up to two lifetimes or 16,000 hours. The 350 tonne structural test rig was purposely built to ‘fly' the F-35 through a series of flight scenarios. Over 20 miles of wiring, 2,500 strain gauges and 160 loading actuators subjected the aircraft to a range of loads that it would typically encounter in actual flight. Chris Garside, BAE Systems F-35 engineering director said: “There is a big spotlight on the F-35 programme, making sure it's delivering as it promised. Hitting a point where we can firmly say that the CTOL airframe is capable of performing to 8,000 hours is a big deal. It gives the F-35 team and Air Forces around the world that will fly the aircraft, confidence that they are getting a product that will last the test of time. Even better - we did it ahead of schedule.” 15% of F-35 Lightning II work is carried out in the UK and over 130 British companies contribute to the supply chain. The programme is worth over £1 billion to UK industry each year and will support around 25,000 British jobs over the next 25 years. www.baesystems.com
