F-35 cockpit demonstrator visits Wright-Patt

  • Published
  • By Derek Kaufman
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Aeronautical Systems Center personnel connected with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program will have a rare opportunity to fly the jet here when the F-35 cockpit demonstrator pays a visit Sept. 8 - 10.

The cockpit demonstrator is a traveling, working mock-up of the advanced jet's cockpit, complete with wrap-around high-resolution displays to give pilots a sense of motion.

ASC's 640th Aeronautical Systems Squadron here oversees U.S. Air Force acquisition and program management support for the F-35, said Lt. Col. Anthony Genatempo, 640th AESS commander.

"Our people have been working hard to see the F-35 through System Development and Demonstration", Genatempo said. "We're delighted to be able to bring the cockpit demonstrator here so they can get a sense of what it's like to fly it. With its stealth and integrated systems, nothing will come close to the F-35's multi-role capabilities."

The F-35 is a stealthy, single-engine, supersonic multi-role fighter which will replace a variety of aging fighter and strike aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied defense forces.

The A-10 Thunderbolt, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet and A/V-8 Harrier are among the jets it will replace. Once fielded, it will complement the fleet of F-22 Raptor air supremacy fighters which are already operational.

Affordability is a key component of the F-35s acquisition strategy, Genatempo said, achieved through shared development with the Navy, Marine Corps and partner nations. A high degree of commonality exists between three variants: a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft for the Air Force, carrier variant for the Navy, and short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) for the Marine Corps.

"The F-35 is a fifth generation, all-weather strike fighter that was conceived in the early 1990s. The program is really maturing rapidly now," Genatempo said. The first F-35A built, a CTOL variant, has already flown 45 times and the first STOVL variant has just entered flight test. To date nine development aircraft have been built or are in production, Genatempo said.

The F-35 Lightning II program is joint, with no lead service, and is staffed by Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps personnel, plus eight international partners, Genatempo said. The Program Executive Officer position alternates between the Departments of Navy and Air Force, and reports to the Service Acquisition Executive of the other service. The current Program Executive Officer is Air Force Major General Charles R. Davis.

Prime contractor Lockheed Martin is developing the jet with principal partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two engines are under development, one coming from Pratt & Whitney and the other by the GE-Rolls Royce Fighter Engine Team. A vast team of subcontractors and suppliers come from across the U.S. and around the world, Lockheed Martin officials said.

More than 2,500 F-35s are currently planned for the U.S. and United Kingdom with commitments from many other countries to build for their air and naval forces.

Base officials intend to invite news media to experience flying the simulator and talk with program officials on Sept. 10.