More on F-35C weight

More news on the F-35C visit to the carrier.

The multifaceted two-week flight test was used to develop launch and recovery bulletins. The former focused on 55,000 and 60,000-pound catapult shots at military, the catapult shot with standard jet thrust, and maximum power. The launches included internal stores such as simulated 2,000 pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles.

As a side note, that was awesome how on its last boat visit, the F-35B did weapons carry right before IOC.

Oh wait, it didn't.

But back to the C.

60k cat shot with 2 JDAMs and 2 AMRAAMs

Let us look at that.

Weights in pounds...

Empty weight: 34,800
Operational empty weight: ?
Internal fuel: 19,624
JDAM (2000-pound-class): 2162 x2
AMRAAM: 335 x 2

59418 lbs (not counting operational empty weight).

Of interest, an earlier configuration 240-4 showed 20,085lbs for internal fuel. The F-35C has gained 15 percent in empty weight since contract award in 2001.

So, to make a 60,000lb cat shot you have the operational empty weight of 582lbs added to the empty weight. Operational empty weight would be the pilot, survival gear, weapons racks and any other appliances needed to take the aircraft to war. Although empty weight growth behavior was already on an upward climb. So, who knows? That inclues the hook fix. Note also, environmental conditions at the time of the cat shot will have some variable effects: temperature, air density, wind-over-deck, test guidelines.

As always, keep an eye on empty weight growth, and, the F-35 fuel leak history.

In other news, a commenter I saw on the Internet, stated that 40 percent of Super Hornet missions are tanker hops. Not the one-third I quoted.

If they can come up with the KF-35, then we may be on our way to a unified carrier air wing, even if the Navy doesn't want it.

Also as one of the readers stated, the Navy not getting UCAS-N to the carrier faster is a crime. A lot of capability (and increased survivability for the carrier group) to be had there.

Future fantasy? KF-35C tankers in each squadron; an all-F-35C tac-air carrier air wing. 2 tac-air F-35 squadrons because that is all the ops-budget (not just procurement) can handle. By the time you look at aircraft reliability, you won't be having a lot of sorties, but then a again the F-35 is supposed to be 6 and 8 times better at everything 'than legacy'.



At any one time, each of the two F-35C squadrons should be able to put up...6 aircraft? Tankers, hopefully are a bit more "reliable".

.