British F35B down in the Med

[TheGreenGoblin]

blisks - new word! I have to say I will always be a fan..............

I hadn't realised that the LiftFan's thrust can also be vectored!

The first of the LiftSystem’s novel features is the 127cm diameter LiftFan, which is used for short take-offs and vertical landings and situated just behind the cockpit. At the heart of the LiftFan are two counter-rotating ‘blisks’. Each blisk features a high efficiency set of blades joined to a disc using state of the art linear friction welding technology. It is mounted vertically just behind the cockpit. The inlet of the LiftFan is parallel with the top of the fuselage and its exhaust flows downwards through a nozzle on the underside of the aircraft to provide a 20,000 lb column of thrust, which can be vectored fore and aft.

Good article on the LiftFan here.

[Ex-Ascot]

They seem to have located it: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... FOUND.html

Surprised it took so long I mean it just went plop.

If it was air-intake covers still on surely the pilot is in deep *****.

[TheGreenGoblin]

They seem to have located it: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... FOUND.html

Surprised it took so long I mean it just went plop.

If it was air-intake covers still on surely the pilot is in deep *sh*t*.

From the Wail -

Russian divers could get there first

Er, no, the aircraft is well over a mile beneath the surface! No divers will be searching down there. Submersibles perhaps, but no divers, not even "foreskin divers!"

[Undried Plum]

The operation, shrouded in secrecy, is understood to involve divers, miniature submarines and inflatable bags which may be used to lift the plane to the surface of the Mediterranean.

That's not as wrong as you might think.

The procedure is to use work class ROVs to attach air bags and to fill them with HP air. The bags reach the surface, but then divers are used to attach the lift lines to recover the item to the salvage vessel.

Even after all these years of technological advances, we still need pond life.

[TheGreenGoblin]

The operation, shrouded in secrecy, is understood to involve divers, miniature submarines and inflatable bags which may be used to lift the plane to the surface of the Mediterranean.

That's not as wrong as you might think.

The procedure is to use work class ROVs to attach air bags and to fill them with HP air. The bags reach the surface, but then divers are used to attach the lift lines to recover the item to the salvage vessel.

Even after all these years of technological advances, we still need pond life.

You are right of course but, as you imply, these frog folk (nothing wrong with green frogs by the way) will not be operating at much more than a depth of about 130 feet for any length of time unless they want to sojourn at length in the decompression chamber. I guess some of the exotic gas mix huffers, in deeper waters, go deeper than that (I believe the record is something like a 1000 foot) but I see that these exotic mix types seem to have a much reduced longevity when judged against the general population.

Who knows, maybe the Russians may have set up the Challenger Deep club with Russian iron men operating there, high on pure vodka fumes...

[Boac]

I think what UP posted was that the a/c would be raised to the surface by 'remote' systems and then divers would attach lifting lines (at around 10ft max depth?)

[TheGreenGoblin]

I think what UP posted was that the a/c would be raised to the surface by 'remote' systems and then divers would attach lifting lines (at around 10ft max depth?)

I got that. I have seen it done before...

[TheGreenGoblin]

I think what UP posted was that the a/c would be raised to the surface by 'remote' systems and then divers would attach lifting lines (at around 10ft max depth?)

I got that. I have seen it done before...

I must also thank UP for suggesting I read 'No Time On our Side' by Roger Chapman where such recovery techniques are outlined in fascinating detail.

[llondel]

The first of the LiftSystem’s novel features is the 127cm diameter LiftFan, which is used for short take-offs and vertical landings and situated just behind the cockpit. At the heart of the LiftFan are two counter-rotating ‘blisks’. Each blisk features a high efficiency set of blades joined to a disc using state of the art linear friction welding technology. It is mounted vertically just behind the cockpit. The inlet of the LiftFan is parallel with the top of the fuselage and its exhaust flows downwards through a nozzle on the underside of the aircraft to provide a 20,000 lb column of thrust, which can be vectored fore and aft.

I've known people do that sort of thing with their car engines when the oil leaked out. Also once employed on a BAe-146 that landed in a hurry at Stansted, IIRC.

[Pontius Navigator]

Ilondel, you explained perfectly what it meant. I had understood perfectly what each word meant but not in that order.

Reminds me of Maggie, a teacher in Malta.

[Undried Plum]

Don't F-35 pilots do a power check before brake release? Or do they just cross their fingers and hope that the engine will produce required power by the time they get halfway up the ramp?

[Boac]

I think the brakes slip at around 35% power (on a dry surface) so yes, but not a full power check. I am surprised that with all the electronic 'gubbins' it possesses that there isn't an automatic 'Don't go' warning before the ramp once at (what should be!) full power.

On the Harrier things were similar in a STO and all you could really check was target RPM after the slam.

[Boac]

Times now reporting a brilliant operation:
"The wreckage of an F-35 has been recovered from the sea bed in a delicate seven-day operation involving vessels from Britain, Italy and America, as a member of the military was arrested for leaking footage about the crash."

[FD2]

Any incident in the street and there's someone there filming it on his/her smart phone hoping to make some money by selling it to a media outlet or just posting it on Fakebook or Twatter. It seems the Services are up to speed on that process as well now. It shouldn't have been too difficult to work out who had access to that screen. Another one lined up for an a*se kicking.

[Ex-Ascot]

Surprised that you can't hold it at 100% on the brakes you could on the VC10. You could then almost go vertical. Not with pax of course.

[Boac]

Surprised that you can't hold it at 100% on the brakes

What a sheltered life you led!

[FD2]

A photo of the recovered wreckage, from the Daily Telegraph. Caption says it was 'leaked'.

[PHXPhlyer]

Put it in a BIG bag of rice to dry everything out, then bondo and duct tape as necessary, and it will be good to go.
Maybe fresh jet fuel as well.

PP

[Undried Plum]

And great big **** red "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT" flags on stuff such as engine blanks so that even the most negligent stickmokey or maintainer can be reminded what to do with blanks before flight.

[Boac]

Don't forget to turn it up the other way as well.