Energo over at F-16.net found a good Canadian F-35 site with weekly updates direcly from the JPO.
Here is the latest.
Source: http://f-35.ca/2011/f-35-weekly-update-%e2%80%93-march-24-2011/
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
F-35 Weekly Update – March 24, 2011
A Message from Larry Lawson
On March 15, all four STOVL test aircraft at PAX returned to flight following the flight restrictions that I discussed last week. In the days that followed, BF-1 flew once for Mode 4 testing including STOs, SLs and one VL. BF-2 flew once for Mode 4 testing, including STOs, SLs and hover. The jet will be in mod for about two and a half months in preparation for ship operations. BF-3 flew twice for flying qualities, loads speedbrake expansion, and air data testing, and will be down for door modifications next week. BF-4 flew twice with one mission and entered night-lighting ground testing. It will soon move into Mode 4 work to characterize the jet for boat preparation.
At Edwards AFB, AF-2 achieved its 100th flight. AF-3 resumed flight ops for a functional check of the newly installed Mission Systems software and hardware, and returned Code One.
On the production side of the house, the forward fuselage team completed their final preparations to move to preassembly in the 120? bay. Also, in the Aircraft Finish Facility (AFF), we currently have five aircraft in for finishes, which is an all time high.
This week in Global Sustainment, the Sustainment Performance Management (SPM) VST achieved a critical milestone in interim data reporting and analysis efforts. The sustainment core finished implementation of batch data transfer into SPMS and rolled it to production. These capabilities will relieve time and manpower pressures until the fully automated reporting capabilities arrive with ALIS 1.0.3.
Also under the sustainment umbrella, last week, our U.K. vendor, EDM, delivered the Ejection System Maintenance Trainer, (ESMT) to the Academic Training Center (ATC) at Eglin AFB. Four trucks are now being unloaded, and the ESMT will be prepared for installation in the near term. I look forward to reporting our continued progress on the impressive pilot training facilities in Florida.
A Message from Tom Burbage
Last week, Kevin Smith and our F-35 domestic customer engagement team hosted a two-day “fighter posse” to discuss domestic program strategies and F-35 advocacy campaigns. During the meeting, the team discussed program status and our 2011 strategy and objectives with more than 40 participants from the wider Business Development community.
Also last week at the Pentagon, Bill Grant from our F-35 supportable LO team provided an LO materials and supportability briefing to the new HQMC Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Lt. Gen. Terry ‘Guts’ Robling. Robling and his deputy, Brig. Gen. Gary ‘Lurch’ Thomas, requested the briefing before the Congressional testimony on March 15 to ensure they were prepared to answer questions concerning the supportability of 5th generation materials in an expeditionary environment. The most salient takeaways for both men was the clear difference between F-22 and F-35 LO supportability, and the degree of effort expended by the program to ensure supportability improvements over legacy aircraft. Thanks to Bill and Eric van Camp for coordinating these presentations.
This week, I will attend the annual Royal Air Force (RAF) Board to Board meeting in the U.K. This is a unique bi-annual forum when the RAF meets with their major suppliers to share information on current and future programs, and build relationships with senior management. This will be our first chance to speak with the senior RAF leadership and address the many changes that have occurred within the U.K. F-35 program.
This week, the Fort Worth team is hosting a series of high level visitors including the acting Deputy Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Mr. Dave van Buren; the USAF Commander of the Air Education and Training Center, Gen. Ed Rice; and Lt. Gen. Terry Robling.
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