Ahead of achieving Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) for US Marine Corps later this year end, an F-35 Lightning II is undergoing extreme wea...
An F-35B from the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force in Maryland is enduring rigorous climatic testing at the U.S. Air Force 96th Test Wing's McKinley Climatic Laboratory, Florida.
The F-35B Lightning II was ferried here in September 2014 to begin a six-month assessment of the aircraft's performance in wind, solar radiation, fog, humidity, rain intrusion/ingestion, freezing rain, icing cloud, icing build-up, vortex icing and snow.
The laboratory supports all-weather testing of weapon systems to ensure they function regardless of climatic conditions.
With 13 countries currently involved with the program, the F-35 must be tested in meteorological conditions representative of those locations from which it will operate, ranging from the heat of the Outback of Australia to the bitter cold of the Arctic Circle above Canada and Norway.
The environment at the chamber can simulate virtually any weather condition--all while flying the jet at full power in either conventional or vertical takeoff mode. The tests will simulate environmental limits - ranging from 120 degrees Fahrenheit to negative 40 degrees, and every possible weather condition in between.
It has flown in more than 100 degree heat while also flying in bitter sub zero temperatures.
In its final days of testing, it will fly through ice and other conditions such as driving rain with hurricane force winds.
