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Soldiers assigned to 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), host a Halloween celebration at the Caisson Stables on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Oct. 26, 2019. Attendees of the celebration were treated with treats and a number of different activities which included hay rides, scavenger hunts, face painting, and a raffle. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Nicholas T. Holmes)
Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) participate in a Basic Horsemanship Course graduation ceremony at the Caisson Stables on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virgnia, Nov. 20, 2020. The Basic Horsemanship Course is a nine-week course that teaches the basics of horsemanship and ceremonial proficiency on horseback. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brandon Muniz and Sgt. Jacob Holmes)
Soldiers assigned to The U.S. Army Fife and Drum Corps, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participate in the anniversary concert, “An Annual Revolution”, at Conmy Hall on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Feb. 24, 2018. The concert was held to commemorate the 58th anniversary of The U.S. Army Fife and Drum Corps and included performances from the members of the Corps. (U.S. Army photos by Pfc. Lane Hiser)
U.S. Soldiers, assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, move to their battle position, during the Strong Europe Tank Challenge (SETC), at the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Grafenwoehr, Germany, May 11, 2016. The SETC is co-hosted by U.S. Army Europe and the German Bundeswehr, May 10-13, 2016. The competition is designed to foster military partnership while promoting NATO interoperability. Seven platoons from six NATO nations are competing in SETC - the first multinational tank challenge at Grafenwoehr in 25 years. For more photos, videos and stories from the Strong Europe Tank Challenge, go to www.eur.army.mil/tankchallenge/ (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Javon Spence)
Soldiers assigned to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) provide ceremonial support during a Senior General Officer Retirement Ceremony in honor of Deputy Chief of Staff, G9, Lt. Gen. Jason T. Evans, in Conmy Hall, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., July 29, 2022. The ceremony, hosted by Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. James C. McConville, honored Evans' 41 years of service and dedication to the nation.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Josue Patricio)
Troopers assigned to Reaper Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, operate an M1128 Mobile Gun System during the squadron's live-fire exercise at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, located near Rose Barracks, Germany, Mar. 15, 2016. The purpose of the live-fire exercise was to help validate the Regiment's Mission Command platforms while conducting a capstone-training event that includes a transition from movement to maneuver capabilities. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner)
PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 4, 2018) - Aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2 display the “Wall of Water” ordnance drop during an air power demonstration in the Pacific Ocean. (Navy photo by Seaman Ethan J. Soto) 180804-N-VQ841-0087
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A crew chief assigned to the 63rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit prepares to marshal out an Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II "Joint Strike Fighter" (sn 51-5130) (MSN AF-121) for take-off at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 1, 2018. This year was the first time the F-35 participated in the Haboob Havoc, a fighter pilot competition, hosted by Thunderbolts.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather, stealth, fifth-generation, multirole combat aircraft, designed for ground-attack and air-superiority missions. It is built by Lockheed Martin and many subcontractors, including Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, and BAE Systems.
The F-35 has three main models: the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A (CTOL), the short take-off and vertical-landing F-35B (STOVL), and the catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery, carrier-based F-35C (CATOBAR). The F-35 descends from the Lockheed Martin X-35, the design that was awarded the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program over the competing Boeing X-32. The official Lightning II name has proven deeply unpopular and USAF pilots have nicknamed it Panther, instead.
The United States principally funds F-35 development, with additional funding from other NATO members and close U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Canada, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and formerly Turkey. These funders generally receive subcontracts to manufacture components for the aircraft; for example, Turkey was the sole supplier of several F-35 parts until its removal from the program in July 2019. Several other countries have ordered, or are considering ordering, the aircraft.
As the largest and most expensive military program ever, the F-35 became the subject of much scrutiny and criticism in the U.S. and in other countries. In 2013 and 2014, critics argued that the plane was "plagued with design flaws", with many blaming the procurement process in which Lockheed was allowed "to design, test, and produce the F-35 all at the same time," instead of identifying and fixing "defects before firing up its production line". By 2014, the program was "$163 billion over budget [and] seven years behind schedule". Critics also contend that the program's high sunk costs and political momentum make it "too big to kill".
The F-35 first flew on 15 December 2006. In July 2015, the United States Marines declared its first squadron of F-35B fighters ready for deployment. However, the DOD-based durability testing indicated the service life of early-production F-35B aircraft is well under the expected 8,000 flight hours, and may be as low as 2,100 flight hours. Lot 9 and later aircraft include design changes but service life testing has yet to occur. The U.S. Air Force declared its first squadron of F-35As ready for deployment in August 2016. The U.S. Navy declared its first F-35Cs ready in February 2019. In 2018, the F-35 made its combat debut with the Israeli Air Force.
The U.S. stated plan is to buy 2,663 F-35s, which will provide the bulk of the crewed tactical airpower of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps in coming decades. Deliveries of the F-35 for the U.S. military are scheduled until 2037 with a projected service life up to 2070.
Development
F-35 development started in 1992 with the origins of the "Joint Strike Fighter" (JSF) program and was to culminate in full production by 2018. The X-35 first flew on 24 October 2000 and the F-35A on 15 December 2006.
The F-35 was developed to replace most US fighter jets with the variants of a single design that would be common to all branches of the military. It was developed in co-operation with a number of foreign partners, and, unlike the F-22 Raptor, intended to be available for export. Three variants were designed: the F-35A (CTOL), the F-35B (STOVL), and the F-35C (CATOBAR). Despite being intended to share most of their parts to reduce costs and improve maintenance logistics, by 2017, the effective commonality was only 20%. The program received considerable criticism for cost overruns during development and for the total projected cost of the program over the lifetime of the jets.
By 2017, the program was expected to cost $406.5 billion over its lifetime (i.e. until 2070) for acquisition of the jets, and an additional $1.1 trillion for operations and maintenance. A number of design deficiencies were alleged, such as: carrying a small internal payload; performance inferior to the aircraft being replaced, particularly the F-16; lack of safety in relying on a single engine; and flaws such as the vulnerability of the fuel tank to fire and the propensity for transonic roll-off (wing drop). The possible obsolescence of stealth technology was also criticized.
Design
Overview
Although several experimental designs have been developed since the 1960s, such as the unsuccessful Rockwell XFV-12, the F-35B is to be the first operational supersonic STOVL stealth fighter. The single-engine F-35 resembles the larger twin-engined Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, drawing design elements from it. The exhaust duct design was inspired by the General Dynamics Model 200, proposed for a 1972 supersonic VTOL fighter requirement for the Sea Control Ship.
Lockheed Martin has suggested that the F-35 could replace the USAF's F-15C/D fighters in the air-superiority role and the F-15E Strike Eagle in the ground-attack role. It has also stated the F-35 is intended to have close- and long-range air-to-air capability second only to that of the F-22 Raptor, and that the F-35 has an advantage over the F-22 in basing flexibility and possesses "advanced sensors and information fusion".
Testifying before the House Appropriations Committee on 25 March 2009, acquisition deputy to the assistant secretary of the Air Force, Lt. Gen. Mark D. "Shack" Shackelford, stated that the F-35 is designed to be America's "premier surface-to-air missile killer, and is uniquely equipped for this mission with cutting-edge processing power, synthetic aperture radar integration techniques, and advanced target recognition".
Improvements
Ostensible improvements over past-generation fighter aircraft include:
Durable, low-maintenance stealth technology, using structural fiber mat instead of the high-maintenance coatings of legacy stealth platforms.
Integrated avionics and sensor fusion that combine information from off- and on-board sensors to increase the pilot's situational awareness and improve target identification and weapon delivery, and to relay information quickly to other command and control (C2) nodes.
High-speed data networking including IEEE 1394b and Fibre Channel (Fibre Channel is also used on Boeing's Super Hornet.
The Autonomic Logistics Global Sustainment, Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), and Computerized maintenance management system to help ensure the aircraft can remain operational with minimal maintenance manpower The Pentagon has moved to open up the competitive bidding by other companies. This was after Lockheed Martin stated that instead of costing 20% less than the F-16 per flight hour, the F-35 would actually cost 12% more. Though the ALGS is intended to reduce maintenance costs, the company disagrees with including the cost of this system in the aircraft ownership calculations. The USMC has implemented a workaround for a cyber vulnerability in the system. The ALIS system currently requires a shipping-container load of servers to run, but Lockheed is working on a more portable version to support the Marines' expeditionary operations.
Electro-hydrostatic actuators run by a power-by-wire flight-control system.
A modern and updated flight simulator, which may be used for a greater fraction of pilot training to reduce the costly flight hours of the actual aircraft.
Lightweight, powerful lithium-ion batteries to provide power to run the control surfaces in an emergency.
Structural composites in the F-35 are 35% of the airframe weight (up from 25% in the F-22). The majority of these are bismaleimide and composite epoxy materials. The F-35 will be the first mass-produced aircraft to include structural nanocomposites, namely carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy. Experience of the F-22's problems with corrosion led to the F-35 using a gap filler that causes less galvanic corrosion to the airframe's skin, designed with fewer gaps requiring filler and implementing better drainage. The relatively short 35-foot wingspan of the A and B variants is set by the F-35B's requirement to fit inside the Navy's current amphibious assault ship parking area and elevators; the F-35C's longer wing is considered to be more fuel efficient.
Costs
A U.S. Navy study found that the F-35 will cost 30 to 40% more to maintain than current jet fighters, not accounting for inflation over the F-35's operational lifetime. A Pentagon study concluded a $1 trillion maintenance cost for the entire fleet over its lifespan, not accounting for inflation. The F-35 program office found that as of January 2014, costs for the F-35 fleet over a 53-year lifecycle was $857 billion. Costs for the fighter have been dropping and accounted for the 22 percent life cycle drop since 2010. Lockheed stated that by 2019, pricing for the fifth-generation aircraft will be less than fourth-generation fighters. An F-35A in 2019 is expected to cost $85 million per unit complete with engines and full mission systems, inflation adjusted from $75 million in December 2013.
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo., conduct a movement in their M113 Armored Personnel Carrier to the training area known as “The Box” during Decisive Action Rotation 19-02 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., Oct. 25, 2018. Decisive Action Rotations at the NTC ensure Army Brigade Combat Teams remain versatile, responsive, and consistently available for current and future contingencies. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Lisa Orender, Operations Group, National Training Center)
DARWIN, NT, Australia (April 14, 2021) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Rotational Force - Darwin arrive and conduct an air movement from East Arm Wharf to Royal Australian Air Force Base, Darwin, NT, Australia, April 14, 2021. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 joined MRF-D and are prepared to respond to crisis and contingencies in the Indo-Pacific region alongside the Australian Defence Force. The MRF-D rotation demonstrates the U.S. commitment to combined readiness and shared regional security in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacob Foster) 210414-M-EA312-1179
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Soldiers assigned to the Caisson Platoon, 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), members of The Old Guard Association, and Officers of the U.S. Park Police, participate in an alumni ride at Rock Creek Park in Washington D.C., Oct. 27, 2018. During the ride, former and current Soldiers of the Caisson Platoon had the opportunity to ride together as a part of the 2018 Old Guard reunion. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. George Huley)
Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard conduct a live-fire exercise on July 12, 2022, at the eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) exercise at Fort Drum, New York. More than 2,500 Soldiers are participating in the training event, which enables brigade combat teams to achieve the trained platoon readiness necessary to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Benjamin Martinez)
An unlikely trio of EMD motors accelerates Union Pacific's MSSPR out of Packwaukee Lake and past the block signals at Highway K. Most trains on the Adams Sub feature trio's of SD70Ms, so a triplet set of SD9043MAC's on the head end of the daily manifest was a pleasant surprise. Perhaps a sign of things to come?
Troopers assigned to Palehorse Troop, 4th Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment maneuver their Strykers as they learn to establish a screen line which provides the commander with an early warning of enemy contact and capabilities while conducting Situational Training Exercises during Allied Spirit I at Hohenfels Training Area located in Hohenfels, Germany, Jan. 17, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to conduct multinational training as well as improving allied interoperability between U.S. and NATO forces. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas F. Johnson Jr.)
SASEBO, Japan (March 5, 2018) Pfc. James Andersonkirk from Groveport, Ohio, assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU), hauls chain to the boat deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48). Ashland is operating in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Mortensen/Released)
Soldiers assigned to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and service members from across the military provide ceremonial support during an Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Va., Feb. 9, 2023, The wreath was laid by His Excellency, Juansher Burchuladze, Georgia’s Minister of Defense, as part of his official visit to the United States. The Ceremony was hosted by Col. David B. Rowland, Commander, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Laura Stephens)
British Soldiers, assigned to the Balaklava Troop, C Squadron, also known as the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, take a pause after returning from a patrol during a course designed to instill the fundamentals of leadership at the tactical level in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, March, 11, 2020. The Soldiers participating in this event are deployed in support of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group-Poland. NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of four battalion-sized battle groups deploying on a persistent rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to demonstrate the alliance’s determination and ability to act as one in response to any aggression against its members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin)
Soldiers assigned to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own", perform the first Twilight Tattoo of the season, on Summerall Field, Fort Myer, Va, May 10, 2023. The hour-long performance demonstrating the Army's rich history was hosted by Gen. Randy A. George, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Laura Stephens)
Working transatlantic back home
{On reserve: assigned LGW trip 15-17NOV2001, London, England layover, my last working trip before the furlough following 9-11; my next trip would be 20NOV2010, 9 years later, a domestic 1-day as a Reserve Flight Attendant, CLT-ATL-CLT-RIC-CLT, Pairing 93164, 1320-2109 [1:20 p.m. initial departure, to 9:09 p.m. final arrival], check-in 12:20 p.m., assigned to work the "B" position}
Over the North Atlantic Ocean
____________________________________________
Ruth's Career as a Flight Attendant – Happy Highlights –
The time has come for me to say a certain good-bye. I have decided to accept a Voluntary Early Out Program (VEOP) of the world's largest airline – saving another flight attendant from being cut involuntarily due to the corona virus pandemic – since our Company doesn't need 80% of us now. Upon leaving September 27, 2021, once exited, I turn into a retiree with full retirement benefits. So I worked my last trip March 1-4, 2020, not knowing – the Lord knew – it'd be my last, and very good.
My first flight to Germany, when I was a child, took 2 days, on a Constellation propeller aircraft in 1960 transporting military families like ours, hugging coastlines and stopping every so often along the way to refuel. Four years later, ending my father's tour of duty, I flew back to America on a jet airliner.
In working flights from the early 90's into 2020 I encountered unexpected joys, exceptionally difficult people, and potentially deadly situations; however, on 1 flight a passenger came to the jetbridge boarding door I was working on his hands... because he had no legs; he had to walk into the restroom on his hands, then ate his meals with those same hands. I said to myself that I wouldn't complain about anything ever again.
Never did any flight I was working on cancel; however, during one month of 4 transatlantic Frankfurt trips, the flight from the day before on 3 of my 4 return flights cancelled: we carried their relaxed, rested return (deadheading) crew, who had an extra full day in Germany to enjoy doing whatever they wanted to do, back over the ocean, working the totally filled flights while they sat, ate, and slept in passenger seats, 100% full airplane each time! I wished I also could have had an extra day, too, at least once!
In a quarter century I flew Germany about 1,000 times as Speaker (making the airplane announcements in German), usually once, sometimes twice, occasionally 3 times in a week, even worked – assigned as a reserve – 10 transatlantic flights in 15 days, 5 trips back-to-back non-stop; plus worked other international destinations, also 5 years domestic, mostly 3-day but a few 1-, 2-, or 4-day, and 1 prized 5-day trip. I will have accumulated 29½ yrs. seniority from my 20May1992 hire, acquiring lifetime memories, enjoying amazing friendships. This scenic journey down memory lane highlights my working trips of which I have pictures: 1 in 1994; 2 in 2001; 2 in 2010; after buying a smart phone, 252 the next day 11AUG2012 through 04MAR2020. Enjoy this mere 1% of a total of ~70,000 photos and occasional notes on working trips as a crewmember!
A Croatian Soldier, assigned to 9th Guardian Battalion, covers a section of a hill top from a fighting position with her assigned weapon during Exercise Immediate Response at Military Training Area, Eugen Kvaternik, Slunj, Croatia, May 18, 2019. Exercise Immediate Response is a multinational exercise co-led by Croatian Armed Forces, Slovenian Armed Forces, and U.S. Army Europe. The logistics-focused exercise is designed to test and improve the ability to move forces and equipment rapidly from one location to another. The exercise will improve readiness and interoperability among participating allied and partner nations. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. Austin Berner)
CN 2004 has been modified with straight air brake connections and will be assigned to the former Missabe property.
Soldiers assigned to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” provided ceremonial support for a Department of the Army retirement ceremony in Conmy Hall on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Oct. 27, 2022. During the ceremony, hosted by Maj. Gen. Allan M. Pepin, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, 33 Soldiers from across the Army retired with a collective total of 623 years of service. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Laura Stephens)
Soldiers assigned to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) participate in a Department of the Army Retirement Ceremony in Comny Hall on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, November 29, 2018. The 40 Soldiers retiring combined for over 900 years of service in the Army. (U.S. Army photos by Spc. Lane Hiser)
Soldiers assigned to Charlie Co., 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) conduct a plane-side honors for U.S. Army Cpl. Ernest L.R. Heilman, at Ronald Reagan National Airport, Arlington, Va., June 6, 2018. Heilman was assigned to Battery B, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, and was declared missing in action on February 13, 1951 when his unit was breaking a roadblock in the vicinity of Hoengsong, South Korea. On August 15, 2017, the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that Heilman’s body had been recovered and identified. Heilman will be buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. (U.S. Army photos by Spc. Gabriel Silva)
A soldier assigned to 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) renders honors shortly after the Chaplain provided his blessing during the funeral for U.S. Army Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Robert M. Belch in Section 68 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, April 14, 2020. Given current health protection guidance from the Secretary of Defense, Old Guard Soldiers wear face coverings to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while executing the Memorial Affairs mission.
Command Sgt. Maj. Belch served in the Army for 26 years, where he was a Combat Engineer with the 42nd Infantry, 142nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Rainbow Division. He was among the first 192 Soldiers to wear the rank of Sergeant Major when it was created. As a decorated World War II veteran, he earned several commendations that included the Legion of Merit.
(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)