Page 1 Daily News
by Gail Helmer
Friday, February 16, 2001
PC News
Battlefield 1942 Screenshots.
COMBATSIM.COM has obtained these screenshots of Digital Illusions World War II vehicle combat game. Battlefield 1942 includes more than 50 missions that range from bomber runs over Europe, to firefights on the beaches of Iwo Jim. Battlefield 1942 is scheduled for release in the Fall.
New Sudden Strike Forever Screenshots.
We have new screenshots from the Sudden Strike add-on,"Sudden Strike Forever".
Player Earns Highest Honor for Delta Force: Land Warrior
NovaLogic, Inc. has announced the promotion of the first Commander-in-Chief in its online, multi-player game Delta Force: Land Warrior. Nick Huynh, who hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana, has earned this title, which is the highest attainable rank, by accumulating the most experience points in NovaLogic's tactical first-person shooter. Huynh will retain his title as Commander-in-Chief as long as he stays ahead of the pack of Delta Force: Land Warrior players by keeping the highest score via NovaWorld® 2, NovaLogic's free, large-scale Internet gaming service.
Huynh has logged nearly 400 hours of playing time to become the first player to achieve the status of 5-Star General. Huynh, 30, plays online under the handle of "~EM~][)A][)EATH" (DaDeath), and is a member of the ~EM~ squad. He was the first player to achieve the status of 1-Star General, and he has already received countless medals and awards for his well-executed playing skills, including six bronze stars, 3 Army Commendation Awards and 5 CQB Badges for Superior Lethality in Close-Quarters Combat.
Future Publishing Restructuring- 90 Staff & 6 titles To Go.
Future Publishing announced today it is to make around 90 UK staff redundant, as well as closing six UK titles, as part of a global restructuring which will result in the loss of around 350 jobs in total worldwide, and the closure of some 20 loss-making publications. The UK magazines to be axed are the recently launched Video Gamer, DCUK, WAP, Digital Camera User, Quick and Easy Windows, Your iMac, as well as the suspension of two occasional titles Best Games Ever and PlayStation Tips.
Military News
CH-46 Fleet Undergoing More Frequent Inspections.
The US Navy and Marine Corps have stepped up inspections of its CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters after the Naval Aviation Systems Command issued a directive requiring an inspection every 10 flight hours to monitor a key rotor head component for fatigue-related cracking. The new requirement, which affects all 308 H-46 aircraft in the Navy, including 229 CH-46Es belonging to the Marine Corps, shortens the existing inspection interval of 25 flight hours per aircraft.
The decision, was made after a 25-hour inspection revealed a crack in a Navy H-46's Forward Longitudinal Differential Bellcrank, which aids in changing the pitch of the forward rotor head. Failure of the bellcrank results in the loss of control of the aircraft. It was the third time such a crack had been discovered. NAVAIR officials decided to increase the frequency of inspections to ensure safe operations until analysis has been completed or new inspection techniques are developed. Each recurring inspection takes approximately 30 minutes. The inspection, which involves spreading the aircraft's blades, poses particular challenges aboard ship, where space is limited.
This latest decision is the third time in more than two years that the H-46, a Vietnam-era dual-rotor helicopter used by the Marine Corps to transport troops and equipment, has been the subject of an airframe bulletin. In December 1999, a NAVAIR bulletin required the inspection of a hydraulic-pressure hose assembly in all CH-46E aircraft after it was discovered that a number of the assemblies had been improperly assembled and delivered. In December 1998, the first discovery of a crack in the suspect bellcrank prompted the original 25-hour-inspection requirement.
In recent years, increasingly frequent operational restrictions imposed to ensure safety have effectively diminished the capability of the nearly 40-year-old CH-46E. Initially intended to carry as many as 25 Marines from ships to shore, the helicopters are now routinely restricted from carrying more than 12 troops. Despite programmes to extend the service life of the Sea Knight, maintenance personnel are finding that components that have never before failed are beginning to break due to increased age and fatigue.
A recent NAVAIR study found that two-thirds of the growth in Aviation Depot Level Repair costs is attributable to aging and obsolescence, which also result in higher maintenance demands and lower reliability and readiness. Between fiscal years 1993 and 1998, the cost per flight hour of maintaining the H-46 has risen approximately 75 percent in constant fiscal 1998 dollars. Flight hours, meanwhile, declined 23 percent during the same period. (Photo by: Sgt Brook R. Kelsey)
Marine Corps Marks 52nd Anniversary Of First Helicopters.
In 1948, two Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopters were delivered to the newly formed Marine Helicopter Squadron One at Quantico. Feb. 9 marked the 52nd anniversary of the delivery of the first helicopters to the Marine Corps and that delivery changed the face of the Corps forever. "The development of the helicopter coupled with that of the amphibian tractor is what made the Marine Corps what it is today," said Ken Smith-Christmas, the curator of Material History for Marine Corps Museums. "Helicopters give us the capability for air mobility and assault from the sea."
Ever since their introduction to the Marine Corps, helicopters have played an invaluable role in the mission of the Corps. The first helicopters were intended for utility use. Today, helicopters enable us to successfully evacuate casualties from the battlefield, re-supply Marines in forward areas and move Marines and equipment to areas ground vehicles cannot reach. "The whole Marine Corps is built around helicopters," said Smith-Christmas. "Helicopters are a bigger part of the Marine Corps than any other service.
"The Army uses them as well, to augment some of their divisions," he said, "but not to the extent the Marine Corps does. Helicopters are part of the Army, but they are the heart of the Marine Corps." Helicopters proved to be especially useful in combat operations in Vietnam and Korea. Marines relied on 'choppers' to get places when other means were impossible. "The helicopter proved its worth, especially in Korea," said Smith-Christmas. "As the situation there developed, helicopters allowed Marines to evacuate casualties and send supplies to a lot of places where there simply were no roads. Looking back on it, so much of our success in Korea would have been impossible without helicopters."
In the future, helicopters will continue to play a valuable role in the Marine Corps mission and the Marine Corps will continue to be at the forefront of it's progression. "Throughout Marine Corps history, Marines have taken the lead when it comes to technological development, especially in the case of the helicopter," Smith-Christmas said. "Many people have the mistaken perception that the Marine Corps is always at the end of the developmental chain, getting obsolete, outdated gear. "Marines joke about getting everyone else's leftovers, but in fact, that's just not the case," said Smith-Christmas. "Actually the opposite is true," he said. "The American people can depend on the Marine Corps to continue to be forward looking and forward thinking." (USMC File Photo)
GE Marine Engines begin new engines for US Navy's LHD8.
GE Marine Engines has received partial funding from Ingalls Shipbuilding to begin the engineering work on equipment to be used on the US Navy's eighth LHD Wasp-class large-deck, multipurpose amphibious assault ship. The ship will be powered by two GE LM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbines, with GE main reduction gearing (two gearboxes). This is the first military application of GE's LM2500+ gas turbine. Currently there are 20 LM2500+ in or slated for operation world-wide on various commercial fast ferries and cruise ships, with an additional 74 units in diverse power generation applications.
The LM2500+s each will have the US Navy rating of 35,000 shaft horsepower for the LHD application. GE expects to finalise the US Navy certification for this rating by the end of 2001. The ship will also have an unique hybrid electric drive system, with electric motors providing propulsion power at low loitering speeds. The previous seven LHD ships, also designed and built by Ingalls, were powered by steam propulsion systems. As the large-deck centrepiece of a Navy/Marine Corps Amphibious Ready Group, LHDs embark, transport, deploy, command and fully support a Marine Expeditionary Unit. The ships are capable of amphibious assault, advance force and special purpose operations, as well as noncombatant evacuation and other humanitarian missions. The ships are 844 feet long and displace 40,500 tons. (US Navy Photo)
Thursday, February 15, 2001
PC News
"LOCK ON: Modern Air Combat" SSI's Next Combat Simulation.
GAME Studios / SSI and The Fighter Collection have teamed up once again to bring the excitement and power of modern combat aviation to the PC. LOCK ON will allow players to fly a variety of US and Russian combat aircraft in an incredibly immersive and authentic environment. Formerly known as Flanker: Attack, LOCK ON will have many elements that will appeal to both novice and experienced flight simulation enthusiast. Additional details concerning many new and exciting features planned for LOCK ON will be made available in the coming weeks. In the meantime, here are the flyable aircraft that are currently planned for LOCK ON. For more info go to: Flanker 2.0 Website
A-10 Warthog
F-15C Eagle
MiG-29 Fulcrum
MiG-29k
SU-27 Flanker
SU-25 Frogfoot
SU-33 Flanker
SU-39
IL-2 Sturmovik Beta Test Sign-Up Launched!
Blue Byte has announced a open Beta test for IL-2 Sturmovik. For all you itching to get your hands on IL-2 here is your chance. 200 entrants will be chosen using their PC specs and an element of random chance, and if you think you have what it takes, head over to: Sturmovik Beta Test Sign-Up
IL-2 Sturmovik Live Chat With Oleg Maddox!
On Saturday, February 17 at 12 p.m. CST, Oleg Maddox will be on hand to field questions and reveal loads of new, exciting information on IL-2 Sturmovik! All you need to do to take part is download the small FREE Online Chat Lobby. For more information go to the: Blue Byte Game Channel Events
Prisoner of War Announced.
Codemaster has announced an original game with the working title of Prisoner of War. Developed by Wide Games, Prisoner of War is the first in a series of new brands Codemasters is introducing to its publishing portfolio.
Prisoner of War aims to capture the intrigue, danger and heroism of Allied escape attempts from prisoner of war camps during World War II. The gameplay promises to deliver a tense third-person action adventure experience where bravery, stealth and cunning are needed. Set in 1941 across four German Prisoner of War camps (Salonika, Stalag Luft I, Stalag Luft III and Colditz Castle), players control four Allied Officers (British, French, Dutch and U.S.) captured by the Germans. Each character is an expert escapee specializing in different fields, including athleticism, stealth, espionage, charm and linguistics -- all vital components of an escape plan that are utilized in the missions.
The characters will be controlled independently as they attempt to escape from their respective POW camps before meeting in Colditz -- the German's high security "escape proof" camp -- to co-operate in the most daring breakout of the war. Using the 3D Atlas engine, practically all the characters and objects in the environment will be interactive. The escapes can feature action sequences of the player's own devising, such as a breakout using explosives or flying out of a prison camp during an air raid using an improvised glider. At other times, drama will be less welcome: Players discovered in a restricted part of camp will experience the wrath of the German guards, for instance. Even when using stealth techniques, whether in a restricted area or out after curfew, players are under constant threat of capture and punishment.
IDSA Sues Online Pirates.
Twelve computer and video game companies filed civil lawsuits on February 12, 2001 against four alleged operators of Internet sites offering illegal copies of hundreds of electronic games for download by visitors to those sites. The complaints were filed by 12 of the IDSA's member companies including Activision, Inc.; Capcom Entertainment, Inc; Eidos Interactive, Inc.; Electronic Arts Inc.; Havas Interactive, Inc./Sierra On-Line, Inc.; LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC; Interplay Entertainment Corp.; Microsoft Corporation, Midway Games, LLC; Nintendo of America Inc.; and The 3DO Company, Inc.
The four defendants are Dasheill Ponce De Leon of Houston, Texas, John Sterling of Beaumont, Texas, Byron Beck of Monrovia, California and Kuei Lin Lo of Amherst, Massachusetts. The lawsuits claim that the defendants made illegal digital copies of the games, posted them on, or distributed them from, their websites, promoted their availability, and encouraged visitors to download these copies, resulting in the illegal distribution of countless numbers of copies via the Internet. The lawsuits seek court-ordered injunctions to shut down the sites and monetary damages for the theft of the entertainment software. Monetary penalties can be as high as $150,000 for each copyrighted work that is infringed.
According to the IDSA, the lawsuits are part of the organization's ongoing campaign against online piracy, and it plans to continue its investigations and file additional lawsuits soon. The IDSA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. IDSA members collectively account for more than 90 percent of the $6.02 billion in entertainment software sales in the United States in 2000, and billions more in export sales of American-made entertainment software. The IDSA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show, business and consumer research, government relations and First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts.
Military News
Civilians Aboard Sub During Collision.
Navy officials confirm that civilian guests were in the control room of the USS Greeneville when the sub collided with and sank a Japanese fishing vessel Feb. 9 south of Hawaii. The accident occurred while the Greeneville was practicing an "emergency main ballast blow," Navy officials said. Sub crews practice the surfacing maneuver, as its name implies, for emergencies, Navy Rear Adm. Craig Quigley told reporters during a Feb. 13 Pentagon press briefing.
Navy officials said 16 civilians were reportedly aboard the Greeneville at the time of the accident. They said Navy ships routinely take business and academic leaders and other civilians on orientation cruises to learn about what submarines do and how they support the nation's national defense. They did not comment further. After the Greeneville was on the surface, the crew spotted survivors in liferafts and radioed for help right away, the Pentagon spokesman said. The Navy and Coast Guard began immediate rescue efforts for the crew and passengers of the sunken Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru. Twenty-six of the 35 people aboard were rescued. Nine are still listed as missing. The submarine crew did not take part in rescuing survivors because of rough seas at the time, Quigley added. A sub in rough seas "is a lousy platform to recover people from the water or bring rafts alongside," he noted.
Apache Longbow To Demonstrate Aerobatics In Australia.
The multi-role AH-64D Apache Longbow combat helicopter will be in the spotlight this week at Australian International Airshow 2001, performing a series of loops and rolls designed to demonstrate the aircraft's aerobatic prowess.
The Apache Longbow, produced by The Boeing Company in Mesa, Ariz., is competing for the Australian Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program, an effort known as Air 87, which will enhance Australian Army and Australian Defence Force capabilities. Apache Longbow offers Australia a low-risk, cost-effective and off-the-shelf solution to its defense needs.
The AH-64D Apache Longbow is the newest version of the combat-proven AH-64A Apache. It is a candidate to fulfill the attack helicopter and reconnaissance requirements of numerous armed forces. Defense forces worldwide have selected the Apache Longbow because of its multi-mission effectiveness and its peacetime cost of ownership.
Army Identifies Soldiers Killed In Hawaii.
The Army has announced the names of six soldiers killed and 11 injured when two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters crashed in Hawaii Monday. "We have notified our family members of this great tragedy," said Maj. Gen. James M. Dubik, commander, 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawaii.
The accident occurred as the division was conducting an infantry brigade combat team field exercise at the U.S. Army Kahuku Military Training Area in the northern part of Oahu. More than 3,500 soldiers were participating in the exercise called Lightning Thrust Warrior, officials said.
U.S. Army Hawaii officials said they will focus on caring for families and soldiers and are making preparations to help soldiers cope with the tragedy.
Soldiers who were injured in the accident and their families will receive support from their respective commands, officials said. They explained that the families of deceased soldiers are being assisted by the division staff and their respective units. The Army will provide families with legal services, officials said, as well as information on the benefits available under the Serviceman's Group Life Insurance and other financial entitlements.
The cause of the incident is under investigation. Army aviation safety experts from the Army Safety Center, Fort Rucker, Ala., will work with the command to conduct a full examination of the circumstances surrounding this accident, officials said.
Wind Tunnel Testing Helps New Boeing Engine Design.
High-speed wind-tunnel testing in Arnold Engineering Development Center's 16-foot transonic wind tunnel will help evaluate new engine designs for the Boeing Longer-Range 767-400ER airplane. This test starts the recently ratified AEDC-Boeing three-year testing contract.
"We're looking at increasing the operating range of the existing 767-400ER," said Larry Scholle, a Boeing engineer in the aero structures group. "By doing so, we need more thrust which translates to more powerful engines. The engines on the Longer-Range 767-400ER will have 72,000 pounds of thrust."
During the test, which was completed in January, Boeing engineers from the aero configuration, stability and control, and structures groups collected data using a 4.6-percent-scale Longer-Range Boeing 767-400ER model. Two different mounting systems were tested. The aerodynamic data for each mounting system assessed the airplane's high-speed drag, handling characteristics and loads determination for the larger engine installation.
Besides the more powerful engines, the Longer-Range 767-400ER has an improved takeoff field length and increased fuel volume over the 767-400ER. The first Longer-Range 767-400ER is scheduled for delivery to Kenya Airways in spring 2004.
Service Marks 10th Anniversary Of Scud Attack.
Ceremonies are scheduled for Feb. 25 to honor soldiers from the Army Reserve's 14th Quartermaster Detachment in Greensburg, Pa., who were killed or injured 10 years ago in a Scud missile attack during Operation Desert Storm.
In this single most devastating attack on U.S. forces during that war, 28 soldiers were killed and 99 were wounded. Of those casualties, 13 members of the 14th were killed and 43 were wounded. Eighty-one percent of the unit's 69 soldiers were killed or wounded and the 14th suffered the greatest number of casualties of any coalition unit during the war.
Several of the soldiers wounded in the Scud attack, as well as surviving family members of those killed in the attack, will be at the ceremonies. This year's ceremonies will include an address by Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania. Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Plewes, chief of the Army Reserve, Maj. Gen. Rodney D. Ruddock, commander of the 99th Regional Support Command, and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. Tilley will attend the ceremony.
The memorial service, which begins at 11 a.m., Feb. 25, in the Greensburg Central Catholic High School gymnasium, will include a role call, wreath-laying ceremony, 21-gun salute and musical tributes.
Wednesday, February 14, 2001
PC News
Expansion Pack To East Front II Announced.
TalonSoft announced that "TalonSoft's Fall of the Reich", the expansion pack to the tactical combat title East Front II, is scheduled for release in March 2001.
In "TalonSoft's Fall of the Reich", players receive three extra campaigns and 17 brand new stand-alone scenarios as the Allies close in on Berlin. New features include Maus tanks, night fighting with flares. The expansion pack can be preordered by visiting: Take 2 Studios Store
In-Game Video Released Of Target Korea.
Targetware has released the first in a series of in-game mpeg video movies, shot from it's upcoming release of Target Korea. It was captured and produced by Brendan "brendo" Poga, who is well known within the flight simulation community for his many popular Warbirds movies. The clip is about 45 seconds and shows a Mig-15bis performing aerobatics maneuvers high over the Korean peninsula.
It can be streamed or downloaded as a 7 Mb mpeg file from:
MiG 15.mpg
It can also just be downloaded as a 6 Mb compressed zip file from:
MiG 15.zip
Military News
Investigation Continues in Submarine, Fishing Vessel Collision.
The U.S. Navy has initiated operations to survey the ocean bottom at the site of the sunken vessel Ehime Maru. The Unmanned Vehicle Detachment of the Navy's Deep Submergence Unit (DSU) from Coronado, Calif. is deploying a remotely operated vehicle and a side scan sonar system to the area.
PRESS.
A surfacing U.S. submarine struck a Japanese fishing vessel at approximately 1:45 p.m. (HST) on Feb. 9, about nine miles south of the Diamond Head crater off Honolulu, Hawaii. The fishing vessel rapidly flooded and sank within 10 minutes in 1,800 feet of water. Twenty-six of 35 aboard were rescued. The search and rescue effort for the nine still missing is continuing.
The motor vessel "Ehime Maru" was on a fishing and research mission when USS Greeneville (SSN 772) rapidly surfaced and collided with its stern. The submarine was conducting an "emergency ballast tank blow," a procedure used to bring subs to the surface in the event of an emergency, although in this case it was used for training. The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine was on a one-day cruise with 16 military and civilian guests. It was due back at Pearl Harbor around 3 p.m.
The sub immediately alerted search and rescue authorities as soon as the crew realized what happened. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and aircraft were on the scene within minutes. USS Salvor (ARS 52) and USS Lake Erie (CG 70) sortied from Pearl Harbor to assist along with Coast Guard boats and cutters. Also on scene were two Navy torpedo retriever boats, a P-3 "Orion" with night vision capabilities and an SH-60 "Seahawk." The sub's commanding officer, Cmdr. Scott Waddle, has been reassigned pending the results of the investigation. The submarine has returned to port with some minor damage to its "skin."
"While it is not yet clear how this accident occurred, it is tragic and regrettable," said Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in a statement on Feb. 10. "I want to express my apologies to those involved in the accident, their families, and the government of Japan."
USS Greeneville, a 362-foot nuclear submarine, was commissioned in February 1996. Its homeport is Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (US Navy Photos)
Blackhawks Crash in Hawaii During Night Exercise.
Yesterday we reported Six Soldiers Die In Blackhawk Helicopter Crash. It is being reported that the Army night helicopter exercise, with operations conducted using night vision goggles, has had a tragic end in Hawaii. In a remote part of Oahu, thirty helicopters were involved in the exercise, when two Blackhawks tangled. Late reports say that one was on the ground, and the other flew into it, and fell to earth. It was raining at the time and in the area of the exercises, with a reported 3500' ceiling, in pitch dark.
Odds & Ends
Nvidia Reaches Critical Xbox Milestone.
NVIDIA® Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA) today reported that two key processors for the Xbox(tm) video game console, the Xbox Graphics Processing Unit (XGPU) and Xbox Media Communications Processor (MCPX), have both been released for fabrication. The two processors are manufactured in TSMC's advanced 0.15um, 7 layer metal process. The combination of NVIDIA's XGPU and MCPX will produce never-before-experienced 3D graphics, high definition video, audio, and broadband capabilities.
The first processor, the XGPU, a fully programmable 3D processor, contains more than 60 million transistors. This awesome amount of computing horsepower is dedicated to one goal - create stunning, never-before-seen imagery. The second processor, the MCPX, is based on two powerful DSPs with 4 billion operations per second dedicated to 3D audio and network processing. The MCPX performs the processing for broadband networking functions, high-speed peripherals, and is the most sophisticated audio processor ever built. The MCPX will enable Xbox to process 64 channels of positional 3D audio.
Tuesday, February 13, 2001
Six Soldiers Die In Blackhawk Helicopter Crash.
Six soldiers were killed and 11 others injured as a result of a helicopter accident on Oahu, Hawaii, at 7:40 p.m. Feb. 12. The names of the dead and injured are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters belonging to the 25th Infantry Division (Light) Aviation Brigade were involved in the accident. The division was conducting an infantry brigade combat team field exercise in the U.S. Army Kahuku Military Training Area in the northern part of Oahu. More than 3,500 soldiers were participating in the exercise.
"Our deepest heartfelt condolences go out to the families of these soldiers at this moment of grief and sorrow," said Maj. Gen. James Dubik, commander, 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawaii. "At this time, our focus is on taking care of the families, and ensuring the injured soldiers receive the best possible medical attention."
The cause of the accident is under investigation.(Photo US Army)
Monday, February 12, 2001
PC News
New Jet Combat Simulation in Development.
An unnamed jet combat simulation based on 60's era aircraft is being developed by a company based in Austin, Texas. The current list of player aircraft includes F-100 Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, A-4 Skyhawk, and F-4 Phantom II. Players will fly against various MiGs (from -17, -19, and several versions of -21), Tu-22, Su-7, IL-28, and other "classic" Soviet aircraft. Check out their screenshots at: Thirdwire Productions
EA.com Debuts Majestic at Demo 2001.
EA.com unveiled a new online experience called Majestic(TM) at The DEMO 2001 Conference. The Internet-based game places players in the center of a powerful suspense thriller where the lines of reality are quickly blurred. Majestic deftly presents a suspense thriller with conspiracy sensibilities involving covert government agencies, menacing fugitives and the finest qualities the Internet has developed. The player is placed at the very center of an exhilarating, multi-tiered story that involves a game company whose top new product appears to interfere with the agenda of a mysterious high-powered, top-secret political organization. It is a groundbreaking form of interactive online entertainment that interacts with players via e-mail, instant messaging, voicemail, fax and the Internet. Unlike any online gaming experience to date, Majestic decides when it is time to engage and summons players to their PCs. Launching in Spring 2001 on EA.com. For more info go to: Majestic
Military News
X-35C Flies to Patuxent River for Carrier Testing.
The Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) X-35C touched down at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland on Feb. 10, completing the first-ever transcontinental flight of a JSF demonstrator aircraft and initiating a series of flight tests that will demonstrate carrier suitability in sea-level conditions.
"We are happy to be back at Patuxent River, testing carrier aircraft with the Navy. We strongly believe that sea-level testing is necessary to give us a true picture of the X-35C's carrier suitability," said Tom Burbage, executive vice president and general manager of the Lockheed Martin JSF program, and a former Navy carrier pilot. "Our JSF teammate Northrop Grumman has long been a fixture here, and we're eager to show how our companies' combined technologies, along with those of Royal Navy aviation veteran BAE SYSTEMS, will meet the unique challenges of carrier-suitable, stealthy strike fighters."
"Flying any single-seat, single-engine airplane across the U.S. is no small accomplishment. Doing it in an 'X' airplane that has been flying for less than three months is tremendous. Congrats to the entire team," said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Art Tomassetti, who flew the plane on its second and final leg from Fort Worth, Tex., to Patuxent River. "Some pilots dream of becoming test pilots, most test pilots dream of flying X airplanes, and I guess X airplane pilots dream of doing something spectacular. Bringing the X-35 into my home base at Pax River after flying it across the country qualifies as spectacular in my book."
The X-35C features a larger wing and control surfaces than the other JSF variants, and has an increased-capacity structure for absorbing catapult launches and arrested landings. While those design elements optimize the aircraft for carrier suitability, it retains a high degree of commonality with the other Lockheed Martin JSF variants.
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