Royal Air Force F35. When will we see it?
Royal Air Force F35. When will we see it?
Author
Discussion

onyx39

Original Poster:

11,349 posts

179 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
I remember being at air show in (IIRC) North Weald a number of years ago, when it was announced over the PA that a Eurofighter "just happened to be passing" and was going to do a couple of passes over the airfield.
Now, I am pretty sure that this was planned, but just wondered if anyone had any idea when we were likely to see the F35, or even if the F35's are in the UK yet? Anyone know?

Odie

4,187 posts

211 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
Arent they all grounded again? and not fit for purpose do to a massive list of issues thats just been leaked.

KieronGSi

1,114 posts

233 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
Odie said:
Arent they all grounded again? and not fit for purpose do to a massive list of issues thats just been leaked.
Only the B model was grounded and flying has resumed.

AshVX220

5,965 posts

219 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
Flying has resumed, all the UK's F-35's 9all 3 of them) are currently conducting flight trials with RN and RAF pilots in the US, PAX river I think.

With all the re-scheduling of the aircaft carrier program, the one date which has not changed is the date for ship flight trials, which is set in Q3 2018. My guess is that QNLZ will go to the US coast to conduct flight trials, ending in the delivery of her jets which she'll then bring home (but that is just a guess).

onyx39

Original Poster:

11,349 posts

179 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
not this year then...

So my best hope is if the yanks send one to Fairford / Farnborough then?

AshVX220

5,965 posts

219 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
onyx39 said:
not this year then...

So my best hope is if the yanks send one to Fairford / Farnborough then?
I'm not sure when they're due to enter US service to be honest, I'd be surprised if the first display appearnce would be a non-UK one though (but hey, business may scupper that assessment).

Don't forget that the F-22 won the fly-off against the F-23 in around '90-'91 and it didn't come here until it was at Farnborugh and Fairford about 3 years ago.

Granted, due to the way the F-35 is being developed and sold it's happening much quicker, but I wouldn't expect to see a public UK display much before 2020.

Mojocvh

16,837 posts

291 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all

onyx39

Original Poster:

11,349 posts

179 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
Mojocvh said:
I wonder if I could buy the Harrier jigs off of BAE.... I could supply the MOD with an infinitely better aircraft for a fraction of the cost !

smile