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21 Sep 2006

Full thrust for F-35 engine

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II completed its first series of engine runs on Monday September 18, culminating in a full-afterburner test that released 40,000 pounds of thrust.

The

F-35 Lightning II completed its first series of engine runs on Monday afternoon, culminating in a full-afterburner test that released 40,000 pounds of thrust, the most ever from a jet-fighter engine. The testing began on Friday, September 15, when Chief Pilot Jon Beesley moved a cockpit switch to the “run” position and brought the

F135 engine to life.

While F135 engines already have logged thousands of hours on test stands, Friday’s engine start marked the first time the engine had run in the F-35 aircraft. The milestone kicked off a final series of ground tests that will lead to the jet’s first flight later this year.

‘This is an exciting time for Pratt & Whitney and the entire F-35 team,’ said Bill Gostic, vice president of F135 engine programs for Pratt & Whitney. "Running this engine in the aircraft puts us one step closer to watching the F-35 fly.’

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