Some cool precision turning and machining pictures:
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: Lockheed Martin X-35B Joint Strike Fighter, with other modern day jet aircraft
Image by Chris Devers
Quoting Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Lockheed Martin X-35B STOVL:
This aircraft is the initial X-35 ever constructed. It was initially the X-35A and was modified to include the lift-fan engine for testing of the STOVL concept. Among its numerous test records, this aircraft was the first in history to obtain a quick takeoff, level supersonic dash, and vertical landing in a single flight. It is also the very first aircraft to fly using a shaft-driven lift-fan propulsion program. The X-35B flight test system was a single of the shortest, most powerful in history, lasting from June 23, 2001 to August 6, 2001.
The lift-fan propulsion technique is now displayed next to the X-35B at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center close to Dulles Airport.
On July 7, 2006, the production model F-35 was officially named F-35 Lightning II by T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff USAF.
Transferred from the United States Air Force.
Date:
2001
Dimensions:
Wing span: 10.05 m (33 ft in)
Length: 15.47 m (50 ft 9 in)
Height: around five m (15 ft in)
Weight: around 35,000 lb.
Materials:
Composite material aircraft skin, alternating steel and titanium spars. Single-engine, single-seat configuration consists of lift-fan and steering bars for vertical flight.
Physical Description:
Short takeoff/vertical landing variant to be utilised by U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marines and the United Kingdom, equipped with a shaft-driven lift fan propulsion system which enables the aircraft to take off from a quick runway or modest aircraft carrier and to land vertically.
Engine: Pratt & Whitney JSF 119-PW-611 turbofan deflects thrust downward for short takeoff/vertical landing capability. The Air Force and Navy versions use a thrust-vectoring exhaust nozzle. The Marine Corps and Royal Air Force/Navy version has a swivel-duct nozzle an engine-driven fan behind the cockpit and air-reaction manage valves in the wings to provide stability at low speeds.
Other key subcontractors are Rolls Royce and BAE.
• • • • •
Quoting Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Grumman A-6E Intruder:
The Navy’s expertise in the Korean War showed the need for a new extended-range strike aircraft with higher subsonic functionality at extremely low altitude–an aircraft that could penetrate enemy defenses and discover and destroy tiny targets in any climate. The Grumman A-6 Intruder was designed with these wants in mind. The Intruder very first flew in 1960 and was delivered to the Navy in 1963 and the Marine Corps in 1964.
The Navy accepted this airplane as an "A" model in 1968. It served under harsh combat situations in the skies more than Vietnam and is a veteran of the 1991 Desert Storm campaign, when it flew missions in the course of the initial 72 hours of the war. It has accumulated much more than 7,500 flying hours, more than 6,500 landings, 767 carrier landings, and 712 catapult launches.
Transferred from the United States Navy, Workplace of the Secretary
Date:
1960
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Dimensions:
All round: 16ft 2in. x 52ft 12in. x 54ft 9in., 26745.8lb. (4.928m x 16.154m x 16.688m, 12131.8kg)
Components:
Standard all-metal, graphite/epoxy wing (retrofit), aluminium handle surfaces, titanium high-strength fittings (wing-fold).
Physical Description:
Dual spot (side by side), twin-engine, all-weather attack aircraft several variants.
The Machine Keeps Turning
Image by Specialist Photography