F-35 coming to RIAT / Farnborough

[Gary]

Currently doing the rounds on the Web http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/ ... OH20140325

(Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department is poised to approve the first trans-Atlantic flight of Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 fighter jet in July, when the new warplane is expected to take part in two international air shows near London, according to multiple sources familiar with the issue.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is "very close" to a decision that would allow two or three F-35s to fly at the Royal International Air Tattoo, or RIAT, an annual military air show outside London, and the larger Farnborough air show, held every two years, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly.

Britain, which contributed $2 billion to the development of the new radar-evading fighter jet and plans to buy 138 F-35s in coming years, asked for the jet's participation to help showcase the increasing maturity of the new radar-evading plane. Britain was also the first international partner on the program.

Details of the F-35's international debut are being worked out, including how much it will cost to fly the planes to London and who will pay for it, but no issues have emerged to prevent the appearances, the sources said.

The costs will likely be shared by Britain, the Pentagon's F-35 program office, the U.S. Marine Corps and industry.

Lockheed and Britain's Ministry of Defense declined comment. Officials at the F-35 program office had no immediate comment.

"Having the aircraft front and center on the UK stage will focus attention on the fact that it's a fairly mature program at this point, with over 100 jets built," said one of the sources.

British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond is due to meet with Hagel during a visit to the United States this week, but they are not planning an announcement about the F-35's UK debut, said one of the sources.

Current plans call for at least one of the participating F-35s to be one of the three F-35 B-model jets already built for Britain, with a UK pilot at the controls.

Participating in the international air shows will allow the Pentagon's F-35 program to carry out additional training and learn how the plane's logistics, maintenance, aerial refueling, and security systems work overseas, the sources said.

"This will be an opportunity to learn real-world lessons and allow additional time to resolve any problems before the first airplanes are delivered overseas," said one of the sources.

Lockheed and Britain's Ministry of Defense declined comment. Officials at the F-35 program office had no immediate comment.

Lockheed is the main contractor on the $392 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon's costliest weapons program. Northrop Grumman Corp and Britain's BAE Systems are the biggest suppliers.

Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp, builds the single engine that powers the plane. Britain's Rolls Royce Group builds the lift fan that enables the B-model of the F-35 to land like a helicopter.

Boeing Co's F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet is also due to fly at the RIAT air show.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Ros Krasny, Sandra Maler and Peter Cooney)

Info from reuters.com

[beefsteak]

Worst kept secret ever!.............LOL

Nice to have it (More or less) finally confirmed though.

[somerset]

only in america could fairford be anywhere near london

[TonyO]

Initial plan is for a flypast at the launch ceremony of the HMS Queen Elizabeth, and the Hampshire country fair, allegedly.

[benben]

Just read this, if a UK pilot is displaying hopefully this means we'll get to see a jet bow for the first time since our harriers last graced the skies! The Yuma F35 demo wasn't bad but it lacked a certain something!

[lmgaylard]

From my FAA sources in the US, expect it at a West Country air show as well......who knows, if the requests are in, maybe a 'Rhino' or 2.....

[KINROTATE]

I will be surprised if the jet puts on anything what might be construed to be a 'squadron' level display standard. My mind goes back to the Osprey on debut. Nice all the same but..........

[EGDR]

From my FAA sources in the US, expect it at a West Country air show as well......who knows, if the requests are in, maybe a 'Rhino' or 2.....

Guessing that would be Yeovilton, Culdrose hardly gets even the current RAF jets, and forget about US ones...

[Nick.M]

From my FAA sources in the US, expect it at a West Country air show as well......who knows, if the requests are in, maybe a 'Rhino' or 2.....

Guessing that would be Yeovilton, Culdrose hardly gets even the current RAF jets, and forget about US ones...

Considering 736 NAS - the FAA's only fast jet Sqn based at CU who are working up toward F35 operations, surely if any other show apart from RIAT & Farnborough should secure its attendance it should be here?!

[Dunk]

I will be surprised if the jet puts on anything what might be construed to be a 'squadron' level display standard. My mind goes back to the Osprey on debut. Nice all the same but..........

Indeed! But any things better than nothing I suppose

[Andy_99]

Better get a ticket this year then.

Although with what everybody is saying about the noise of the thing Env Health will slap a noise abatement order on it (Joking I Hope)

[EGDR]

From my FAA sources in the US, expect it at a West Country air show as well......who knows, if the requests are in, maybe a 'Rhino' or 2.....

Guessing that would be Yeovilton, Culdrose hardly gets even the current RAF jets, and forget about US ones...

Considering 736 NAS - the FAA's only fast jet Sqn based at CU who are working up toward F35 operations, surely if any other show apart from RIAT & Farnborough should secure its attendance it should be here?!

Do you mean 736 is working their way up to F-35!? I think you've been mistaken... Other than being FAA (jointly, I believe) there isn't really much of a connection between Culdrose and the F-35, and to be honest there isn't really a connection with Yeovilton either, the fact that it could be there would just be because it is the FAA's biggest air show.

[Unknown74]

Flypast over Rosyth would be totally awesome.

[Nick.M]

Guessing that would be Yeovilton, Culdrose hardly gets even the current RAF jets, and forget about US ones... [/quote]

Considering 736 NAS - the FAA's only fast jet Sqn based at CU who are working up toward F35 operations, surely if any other show apart from RIAT & Farnborough should secure its attendance it should be here?![/quote]

Do you mean 736 is working their way up to F-35!? I think you've been mistaken... Other than being FAA (jointly, I believe) there isn't really much of a connection between Culdrose and the F-35, and to be honest there isn't really a connection with Yeovilton either, the fact that it could be there would just be because it is the FAA's biggest air show.[/quote]

No, 736 are the only FAA Sqn to keep pilots current on fast jets in preparation for the F35.
I believe that is one of the reasons why FRADU changed to Sqn status.

[Richard B]

So the story of this F35 being a runway ripper, is not true then.
will be good to see if they do bring a few over.

[Malcolm]

I suspect that once a decision is made to send it over the pond, both Lockheed Martin and HMG will want to show it off as much as they can to try and bolster public oppinion over what is seen by many as another over priced, over budget and late military shambles. For that reason, I think it'll attend any and all suitable airshows during it's time here. It wouldn't surprise me if it also visits future operating bases (Marham) and makes some overseas trips to try and bolster wavering European support - places like Denmark and perhaps even Italy or Turkey.

It'll be interesting to see what sub-types come. Talk is of 3 aircraft - All B's or 2 B's and an A? Bringing an A would complicate the tanking arrangements on the trip over the pond but might sway the Danish decision. Can't see there being a C - not advanced enough yet and no real prospect of orders.

[lmgaylard]

If You all will allow me to ramble I will endeavour to clarify a few points;
736NAS; I recently interviewed the current CO and SPLOT and as I'm aware their core roll remains fulfilling their Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) along with any other nation who requires, and has paid for, their services. 736 also will give currency to fast-jet jockeys, old and new. They do have other tasking's and requirements, but I'm saving those for the article!
The guys who will initially operate F-35B are those who have been/ will be on exchange postings in the US. As you all will have probably read, there are about 25 FAA pilots flying with the US Navy and Marine Corps as well as those pilots and ground crew involved with the JSF. There is also FAA pilots flying with the RAF and the French.

F-35B UK displays; As I understand it, at least two JSF will be coming to the UK (primarily) to display at selected air shows and events. These have yet to be set in stone, so as with anything in the military, plans may change, don't shoot me if nothing happens. RIAT and Farnborough are top of the list along with very likely appearances at My local ( not naming it as eyes are watching ) and the big RAF show ( you all know the one). The word is that the JSF aircraft will operate in the UK for July only, although again, that may well change.
As for future F-35B operations, as you will know the main base will be RAF Marham. Yeovilton, I am reliably told, is set to be the Forward Operating Base (FOB) for all JSF aircraft. So when working up to deploy to a carrier it is expected that the relevant squadron will come into VL to prepare for embarkation.
Again, all this may change, so this is the understanding I have at the moment.

As for my comment about possible 'Rhino' Super Hornet participation at VL; It WAS going to happen last year, 5 'Rhino' were planned to come to VL and CU air days all piloted by FAA pilots but, when sequestration hit the US, as you all know, all US participation in air displays was cancelled. The lead pilot in the US, who I talk to regularly, tells me they are very much hoping to come this year but it is dependant on current deployments. I would say 60/40 in favour at the moment.
Hope this helps a little but I stress, al that I have said is not officially confirmed and may well change so please, if it doesn't work out to how we would like, don't give me too much abuse.

[Tiger Tim]

Just read this, if a UK pilot is displaying hopefully this means we'll get to see a jet bow for the first time since our harriers last graced the skies! The Yuma F35 demo wasn't bad but it lacked a certain something!

Correct - A HARRIER BOW

[Doughnut]

Re the USN sending FA-18E to Yeovilton, has there been any news about a US Carrier coming over for the D-Day anniversary.

Re the F-35A or B visiting UK, would flying with air refuelling tanker support be necessary ? What ranged do the jets have if flown via Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland ?

[Malcolm]

Re the USN sending FA-18E to Yeovilton, has there been any news about a US Carrier coming over for the D-Day anniversary.

D Day is 5th/6th June. The UK shows are all in July, and Yeovilton is at the end of July (26th). There is no chance of any carrier which turns up for D-Day hanging about for almost 2 months.

Re the F-35A or B visiting UK, would flying with air refuelling tanker support be necessary ? What ranged do the jets have if flown via Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland ?

You could do that, but then you risk having jets stranded in bases with virtually no VASS support. My guess is they'll be tanked over (not by Voyagers), perhaps via Lajes, but more likely direct overhead those locations so that divert fields aren't far away - similar to when the F-16 made it's European debut in the mid 70's.