F-35 Lightning II developments

[Starfighter_F-104G]

F-35A AF-419 22-5719 LN 493FS/48FW seen FW 14-05-2024

[tally]

First flight at NAS Fort Worth, May 20, 2024:
AF-423, 22-5723/TY, 325 FW, 95 FS.
BF-163, 170532, nmks.

[Bjorn]

First flight of Belgian FL004 on May 23rd.

Greets,

[Starfighter_F-104G]

F-35A AU-069 A35-069 75Sqn seen FW 15-05-2024
F-35A AX-040 49-8740 accepted FACO Nagoya waiting for delivery 15-05-2024

[Starfighter_F-104G]

Canada
May 27, 2024

The first 16 of the air force’s new F-35 fighters will be paid for out of the current federal budget, even though Canada isn’t expected to take delivery of the warplanes until 2026.

[michel N]

Earlier today an unknown F-35 has crashed near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Not much more details known at this time

[Starfighter_F-104G]

Earlier today an unknown F-35 has crashed near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Not much more details known at this time

28-05-2024
The plane was a developmental model of the F-35 fighter jet, which was being delivered by Lockheed Martin,

"An F-35B enroute from Fort Worth, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base, California, crashed after a refueling stop at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.


NOTE
F-35B BF-139 170052 is a TR3 & Bk4 test a/c

[Melchior Timmers]

170052 was delivered already so I don’t think that’s the unlucky number.

[NJO]

If it’s a TR-3 development F-35 that has crashed it could further delay even more the resumption of deliveries?

[Starfighter_F-104G]

170052 was delivered already so I don’t think that’s the unlucky number.

Time will tell
F-35B 170052 last seen FW 07-08-2023

[Trabanti]

Pilot ejected and survived, with injuries.

[Mark B.]

170052 was delivered already so I don’t think that’s the unlucky number.

Time will tell
F-35B 170052 last seen FW 07-08-2023

According The F-35 Joint Program Office: "The aircraft was a developmental test aircraft being transferred from Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The government accepted (DD-250) the aircraft in September 2023 and it was recently undergoing modification to add additional test equipment. The investigation is ongoing." Source: The War Zone website.

If this is a TR3 & Bk4 test aircraft then this is a major setback given the already troubled development and halted deliveries..

[Starfighter_F-104G]

170052 was delivered already so I don’t think that’s the unlucky number.

Time will tell
F-35B 170052 last seen FW 07-08-2023

F-35B w/o 28-05-2024

The JPO said the aircraft involved in the May 28 crash was a Technology Refresh 2-configured airplane, which was delivered in September 2023. Due to delays in testing the TR-3 configuration, the government has not accepted any new-build TR-3 airplanes since July 2023, so the aircraft involved was one of the last TR-2s built and delivered.

The JPO could not immediately say what kind of testing the mishap aircraft was earmarked for, but an industry source noted that the TR-3 is only one of several test campaigns now underway with the F-35, although “it is the priority.”

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson said the jet was being transferred from Fort Worth, where the company’s F-35 factory is located, to Edwards AFB for modifications and testing. Neither the JPO nor Lockheed Martin described the modifications it was to receive. The stop at Kirtland was made to refuel.

“This was a U.S. government-owned and -operated aircraft that was being flown by a government pilot who safely ejected,” Lockheed Martin said in a press statement.

[michel N]

Today a brand new F35B for the USMC crashed in New Mexico and is totally destroyed.
Pilot is save but wounded.

Did you read the messages above yours?

[Starfighter_F-104G]

F-35A AY-01 FL001 FW 05-06-2024 probably first flight
F-35A AY-04 FL004 FW 06-06-2024 probably first flight
F-35B BF-162 170531 um FW 06-06-2024
F-35C CF-097 170540 um FW 06-06-2024