F-35C carrier details

This AV Week piece on the carrier trials for the F-35C is interesting. It gives good detail about how the auto-throttles and stick work for approach.

Also this cruise was to be day-only but things went well enough to test a few night things.

The landings marked the start of a two-week Developmental Testing 1 (DT-1) phase for the F-35C; there are three such phases planned. The primary objectives are launch-and-recovery handling as well as aircraft support operations on the ship, including chocking and chaining the aircraft, tractor tow movement and placement of the aircraft on deck. Landings are limited to crosswinds below 7 kt. and day arrestments only. Basic navigation, radar and other mission systems are also being tested, says Thomas Halley, Lockheed Martin F-35 business development director.

Two follow-on DT periods will gradually expand the crosswind conditions to 15 kt., Halley says. DT-2 will incorporate internal weapon stores, and DT-3 will add external stores to the mix. Both follow-on periods will include testing of the F-35’s distributed aperture system and Link 16 communications. DT-2 is slated for September 2015, with DT-3 to follow by April of 2016. Testing during DT-1, however, has been smooth, prompting officials to consider starting night operations before departing the ship Nov. 16.