F-35 structural testing

[ChrisCwmbran]

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/bu ... ssion=true

Just thought this might be of some interest to people....

I've never used the Hull Daily Mail as a source of info before!

[tm74sqn]

Some background info published during February 2018:-

The F-35 programme requires an aircraft service life of 8,000 flight hours. This is verified through durability testing to two lifetimes or 16,000 hours. Recently a full-scale durability test airframe of the F-35A aircraft has successfully completed its third life testing, equivalent to 24,000 hours of “flying”, in the unique testing facility at BAE Systems’ site in Brough, East Yorkshire. The airframe tested, known as AJ-1, is representative of the F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing variant of the jet – completing third life testing on this F-35A durability article should provide the data necessary to enable operators to maintain and sustain this variant of the F-35 beyond 2050. While in the 350-tonnes structural test rig, AJ-1 was subjected to and tested on the range of loads it would experience in actual flight, with durability tests carried out to simulate real life fleet usage based on projected operational requirements. BAE Systems’ durability test rig is the only one of its kind in the UK and it has supported the testing of AJ-1 since it arrived at Brough in 2009. The test rig is fitted with more than 20 miles of wiring, 2,500 strain gauges, and 160 loading actuators which are attached to the airframe during testing. The F-35A is the latest in a line of aircraft to have been tested at Brough – these include the Buccaneer, Harrier, Hawk, and, most recently, Eurofighter Typhoon, which continues to be tested at the site.

After testing, the F-35A durability test airframe was expected to leave the rig and be moved to the USA where it was due to undergo further detailed inspections. Lockheed Martin, the programme’s prime contractor, is responsible for testing of the aircraft’s other variants: the F-35B Short Take-Off; Vertical Landing variant; and the F-35C Carrier variant. Both the F-35B and F-35C durability test articles have completed 16,000-hour second life testing and are continuing with additional testing to potentially maximize the life of the aircraft.

[teeonefixer]

AJ-1 is the 2nd F35 to be tested at Brough. F-35A AG-1 arrived May 2009 and was shipped back to Lockheeds for a complete teardown a couple of years later. Brough were also responsible for the design of the vertical tails (Woodford did the horizontal tails) and all of these are undergoing testing as well.
The facility at Brough became the centre of excellence for BAE Sytems when the 2nd Buccaneer Fatigue Test was established, following the accident to XV345 on Red Flag in Feb 1980 and the subsequent loading evaluations.