How does the F-35 lift fan work?
The lift fan, located towards the front of the aircraft, acts as a counterbalance by using two counter-rotating blisks. Unheated engine bypass air is then diverted through nozzles mounted on the wings of the aircraft, called roll posts, in order to allow roll control.
Can F 35s hover?
F-35A and F-35C cannot hover, as they do not have thrust vectoring, thought they can fly at very low speed almost nose-up, due to their excellent high alpha capabilities. F-35B has a lift fan and thrust vectoring capable of redirecting the thrust from the engine downward.
Does the F-35 have a Rolls Royce engine?
The Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, together with the F135 engine, is an aircraft propulsion system designed for use in the STOVL variant of the F-35 Lightning II….Rolls-Royce LiftSystem.
| LiftSystem | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Rolls-Royce plc |
| Major applications | F-35 Lightning II |
How does F-35 vertical takeoff?
Getting Vertical Using energy generated by the F-35’s single engine, a swiveling jet pipe capable of rotating 95 degrees in 2.5 seconds redirects the engine thrust downward, while additional lift fans beneath the cockpit and wings combine to produce 40,000 pounds of vertical thrust.
How fast does the F-35 go?
1,200mph
The F-35 measures 15.6m (51.2ft) in overall length, has a wingspan of 10.7m (35ft) and a height of 4.36m (14.3ft). Its top speed comes in at 1.6 Mach or 1,200mph – that is 1.6 times the speed of sound – and its maximum thrust tops 40,000lbs.
Can a fighter jet hover vertically?
Watch newly released footage of the F-35B taking off, hovering, and landing vertically. This is the F-35B Lightning II, one of the world’s most maneuverable aircraft. With 40,000 pounds of thrust, it can take off and land vertically.
What is the difference between F-35A and F-35B?
Practically, the F-35B takes approximately eighteen more seconds to accelerate from Mach 0.8 to Mach 1.2 compared to the F-35A. The increased profile and different weight also affects the potential turn rate, but practically, the F-35B is limited to pulling 7Gs maximum to avoid damage to internal components.
Is the F-35B supersonic?
Lockheed Martin this week announced its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter STOVL variant has achieved supersonic speeds for the first time, accelerating to Mach 1.07 (727 miles per hour) on the first in a series of planned supersonic flights.
Does F-35 have thrust vectoring?
It is not conceived for enhanced maneuverability in combat, only for VTOL operation, and the F-35A and F-35C do not use thrust vectoring at all.
What engine does the F-35B use?
Pratt & Whitney F135F-35B / Engine type
The Pratt & Whitney F135 is an afterburning turbofan developed for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a single-engine strike fighter.
Can F-35B take off vertically?
Out of the three variants, the F-35B has a short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) capability, which can be used either on land or on an aircraft carrier. The STOVL feature makes the jet land vertically like a helicopter and take off in very short distances.
Can F-35B VTOL?
Can land vertically like a helicopter and take-off in very short distances. This allows it to operate from austere, short-field bases and a range of air-capable ships. The F-35B is operated by the United States Marine Corps, the United Kingdom, and the Italian Air Force.
What is an F-35B Lightning II?
F-35B Lightning II. Categories. The F-35B Lightning II is the Marine Corps variant of the Joint Strike Fighter and features a vertical lift fan and pivoting engine nozzle to deliver vertical landing and short takeoff capability to expeditionary airfields. The F-35 will replace AV-8B Harrier IIs in the Marine Corps inventory.
What is the difference between the F-35A and F-35B?
The Italian Air Force will also operate the B-variant. The F-35B has a Lift Fan just behind the cockpit and an engine that can swivel 90 degrees when in short takeoff/vertical landing mode. Because of the Lift Fan, the STOVL variant has smaller internal weapon bay and less internal fuel capacity than the F-35A.
What is the F-35B STOVL?
The F-35B STOVL variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft was intended to replace the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II and the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet used by the United States Marine Corps. It would also replace the British Aerospace Harrier II and the British Aerospace Sea Harrier used by Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
When was the lift fan first used?
The lift fan was demonstrated by the Allison Engine Company in 1995-97. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) awarded General Electric and Rolls-Royce a $2.1 billion contract to jointly develop the F136 engine as an alternative to the F-135. The LiftSystem was designed to be used with either engine.