Posted on February 5, 2010 by Fighter Country
The U.S. Senate began debate on the 2011 defense budget Feb. 2 where debate left off on the 2010 budget last fall — on the C-17 cargo plane, the alternate F-35 engine and the F-22. President Obama wants to end C-17 production and cancel the alternate engine, but a lot of senators want to keep the programs alive, just like last year. And Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., wants to resuscitate the F-22 stealth fighter. But Defense Secretary Robert Gates seems determined to force a different outcome this year. “I’m fully aware of political pressure to continue building a C-17 and…
Posted on February 5, 2010 by Fighter Country
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is asking the Air Force to provide complete information on the noise produced by the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which may be based in Tucson. In a letter to top Air Force officials, Giffords reiterated her strong support for basing the fighter jet in Tucson, but noted that constituents have expressed concerns about the noise of the plane. Providing noise information “will ensure that there is a full examination of the impact on any community that is being considered for basing of the F-35,” Giffords wrote in a letter to Air Force Secretary…
Posted on February 4, 2010 by Fighter Country
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Fighter Country Partnership) PHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer, Attorney General Terry Goddard and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors today adopted an agreement to resolve a long-standing issue involving residential encroachment around Luke Air Force Base at a special meeting of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors held at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park.
“I’d like to thank key leaders and their staff who joined me in reaching this important resolution that the Supervisors adopted today, including Senator John Nelson, Attorney General Terry Goddard, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Senator John McCain,” said Governor Brewer. “It is a testament to our state officials who came together in a unified and cooperative spirit to uphold the health and welfare of our citizens, preserve the rights of property owners as well as the success of the State’s military bases. Our unified agreement will no doubt make clear to the U. S. Defense Department that Arizona stands ready for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter mission.”
“This agreement represents a major victory for the citizens of Arizona,” Goddard said. “It upholds state law, protects the health and safety of nearby residents and strengthens Luke’s bid for the F-35. It also shows what can be accomplished when a commitment to serve the greater good prevails over political and policy differences.”
The settlement agreement reached between…..
Posted on February 2, 2010 by Fighter Country
A Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter today became the fifth F-35 to begin flight operations. One day after the secretary of defense commented about the F-35 program regarding its lack of performance on the F-35 joint strike fighter, Lockheed Martin got its fifth F-35 test airplane in the air Tuesday for the first time. The jet, known as BF-3, departed the runway near Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant at 4:02 p.m. CST for its first flight. During the one-hour sortie, F-35 Chief Test Pilot Jon Beesley tested the aircraft’s handling qualities, engine…
Posted on February 2, 2010 by Fighter Country
The Pentagon will name Vice Admiral David Venlet, commander of the Naval Air Systems Command, to run its F-35 fighter plane program, an influential defense analyst with knowledge of the plan, said on Tuesday. Venlet will get the job after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he would restructure…
Posted on February 1, 2010 by Fighter Country
Honeywell Aerospace, headquartered in Phoenix, provides critical technology for approximately 14 aircraft systems on the F-35, including the power and thermal management system. This first-ever integrated system combines auxiliary power, environmental controls, engine start and emergency power into a single system with significant weight savings for the aircraft.
Posted on January 29, 2010 by Fighter Country
By Tony Capaccio Jan. 29 (Bloomberg) — Lockheed Martin Corp. is fixing a structural weakness in the Navy version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that limits the jet’s ability to launch from aircraft carriers, according to a company spokesman. Engineers in July discovered a “strength shortfall” in an aluminum structure in the aircraft’s center fuselage that helps absorb stresses during a catapult takeoff, Lockheed spokesman John Kent said today in an e-mailed statement. “U.S. Navy and program office engineers were apprised immediately and have been directly involved in approving design updates,” Kent said. “A modification is already approved and…
Posted on January 28, 2010 by Fighter Country
By John T. Bennett – Staff writer The Pentagon’s 2011 budget will seek nearly $11 billion for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, while also putting $4 billion toward a new long-range bomber and boosting funds for special operations forces, according to a draft overview of the spending request obtained by Defense News. The Obama administration’s 2011 Pentagon spending request follows a tumultuous 2010 Pentagon budget process that saw Defense Secretary Robert Gates cancel, restructure or otherwise alter about 50 major U.S. weapon programs. Due to be sent to Congress on Feb. 1, the new budget will call for the termination…
Posted on January 28, 2010 by Fighter Country
Air Force officials will visit Florida and Southeast Georgia to receive public input on the F-35 joint strike fighter during a series of meetings beginning Feb. 8. The Air Force is gauging the potential environmental impact of establishing an F-35 A Lightning II unit at Jacksonville Air National Guard Station or four out-of-state bases. It’ll relate to land use, airspace and safety, air and water quality, noise, socioeconomics, biological and cultural resources and cumulative actions. The F-35 is a next generation, stealth capable air-to-ground fighter designed to replace the service’s aging fleet of F-15 and F-16 “legacy” aircraft. A decision…
Posted on January 28, 2010 by Fighter Country
by David Madrid – Jan. 28, 2010 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic A dispute between the state and Maricopa County over residential construction near Luke Air Force Base may soon be over if a negotiated agreement makes it to the county Board of Supervisors. It would be good news for Luke proponents, who are working to bring the F-35 Lightning II to the base, which they believe is the logical place to put an aircraft that replaces Luke’s aging F-16 jet fighters. Luke pumps $2.1 billion a year into the state’s economy. The agreement would be signed by Gov. Jan…
