The Navy’s F-35C Has A Major Nose Gear Problem
It gives pilots one hell of a ride down the catapult track.
By Tyler RogowayJanuary 5, 2017
The War ZoneCarrier OpsCatapultConcurrencyF-35F-35 SagaF-35CJoint Strike Fighter
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More than a decade after the Lockheed Martin F-35 began flight testing, the Navy’s catapult launch and barrier recovery (CATOBAR) variant, the F-35C, remains mired with teething issues. Now, one problem appears to be more debilitating than previously realized, and it’s rearing its head at a critical phase of flight for any Navy fighter—the catapult launch.
The issue occurs when a lightly loaded F-35C’s landing gear nose strut is compressed while the jet throttles up, right before launch. As the catapult fires and the hold back bar is released, the jet is rapidly pulled forward, during which time the strut oscillates violently up and down. The bouncing continues as the aircraft proceeds down the catapult track at increasing speed.
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/6839/the-navys-f-35c-has-a-major-nose-gear-problem
