‘Frankenjet' stealth fighter made from two wrecked warplanes joins US Air Force fleet
''Frankenjet'' is fully operational and ready to support the warfighter,' a report from the military's F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) said on Wednesday.
The recycled warplane traces its origins to 2014, when an F-35A about to take off on a training mission from Florida's Eglin Air Force Base suffered 'catastrophic engine failure,' according to an Air Force report on the incident.
The aircraft, known as AF-27, also sustained major damage to its rear.
Pieces of a fractured engine rotor arm 'cut through the engine's fan case, the engine bay, an internal fuel tank, and hydraulic and fuel lines before exiting through the aircraft's upper fuselage,' an investigation concluded.
The resulting fire burned the rear two thirds of the fighter jet, it said.
Then on June 8, 2020, the nose landing gear on another F-35A, known as AF-211, failed on landing at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, resulting in severe damage to that warplane, according to reports on the incident.
So, the Air Force was left with two useable pieces of $75 million fighter jets – the nose of AF-27 and the rear of AF-211.
'Rather than writing off both jets as a loss … teams made a bold decision in 2022 to remove the nose from AF-27 and put it onto AF-211 to maximize savings and add back an operational aircraft to the fleet,' a report from the F-35 JPO said.
Scott Taylor, lead mechanical engineer for manufacturer Lockheed Martin, put the effort in perspective in a 2023 news release.
'All of the aircraft sections can be de-mated and re-mated theoretically, but it's just never been done before,' Taylor said. 'This is the first F-35 'Frankin-bird' to date. This is history.'
The work was done at Hill AFB, with 'entirely new, unique specialized tooling, fixtures, and equipment,' the 2023 Air Force press release said.
Almost two and a half years of repairs paid off in January, when the Frankenjet flew for the first time, from Hill AFB to Lockheed Martin's F-35 facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
'The rebuilt aircraft's first flight was flown to the edges of the performance envelope, and it performed like it was fresh from the initial production line,' Jeffrey Jensen, the F-35A variant lead engineer, said in a press release.
Late last month, Frankenjet was flown back to Hill AFB and assigned to the 338th Fighter Wing, the same unit AF-211 had originally belonged to.
The military statement put the cost of the Frankenjet project at $11.7 million, saying it saved the Pentagon and taxpayers $63 million over the cost of a new replacement aircraft.
The US Air Force has 383 F-35As in its fleet, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The F-35A is one of the three versions of the US military's stealth fighter. The Marine Corps flies the F-35B – a short take-off, vertical landing aircraft – and the Navy flies the F-35C, designed for aircraft carrier operations.
F-35s have also become a popular choice for US allies and partners, with 17 other countries either flying or acquiring the jets, according to Lockheed Martin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Newsweek
US-Allied Military Planes Involved in Airspace Scare
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. South Korea's military has launched an investigation after one of its transport planes entered Japan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) without prior notice, leading Japan to scramble fighters to carry out an interception. Newsweek has reached out to South Korea's defense ministry by email with a request for comment. Why It Matters An ADIZ is a designated area of airspace where foreign aircraft are required to identify themselves. Failure to do so typically prompts the claimant nation to dispatch military aircraft. Japan and South Korea—both key U.S. security partners in the Asia-Pacific—have a history of uneasy relations, shaped by Japan's colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula and a territorial dispute over a group of islets. Still, recent years have seen increased security cooperation between the uneasy partners in response to perceived threats posed by North Korea and China. A Republic of Korea Air Force C-130 takes off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on June 9, 2023. A Republic of Korea Air Force C-130 takes off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on June 9, 2023. Airman 1st Class Julia Lebens/U.S. Air Force What To Know On July 13, a South Korean Lockheed C-130 Hercules, en route to a large-scale U.S.-led military exercise in Guam, was forced to reroute to Kadena Air Base in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture to refuel. While officials did not name the exercise, it was likely the ongoing Resolute Force Pacific, billed as the largest combat exercise ever held in the Pacific. The diversion occurred after the plane burned through more fuel than expected while navigating bad weather, a South Korean military spokesperson told the media Thursday. The plane entered Japan's ADIZ without first obtaining clearance, prompting Japan to dispatch fighter jets to intercept the aircraft, the country's Joint Staff told outlet Stars and Stripes. The C-130's pilot then explained the situation to U.S. and Japanese forces via radio before making an emergency landing, Seoul said. After refueling, the aircraft was cleared to continue on to Guam, a U.S. territory. "We conveyed to South Korea that this scramble was regrettable and requested measures to prevent further incidents," a Japanese official said. "But as they are our important partner, we will continue to work closely together to address the issue." The incident came just two days after a joint drill in South Korea involving U.S. and South Korean fighter jets and a U.S. B-52 Stratofortress. It marked the first deployment this year of the nuclear-capable bomber to the Korean Peninsula. What's Next It's unclear whether South Korea's military will take disciplinary measures against the C-130 pilot. Japan is expected to continue to respond to anomalous activity within its EEZ, particularly in light of repeated encroachments by Chinese drones.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
US Osprey makes emergency landing in Japan, officials say
TOKYO - -A U.S. CV-22 Osprey made what Japanese officials called an emergency landing Thursday at Hanamaki Airport in northeastern Japan, about 300 miles north of Tokyo. Airport officials say the tilt-rotor aircraft touched down safely after reporting a mechanical issue mid-flight. The U.S. Air Force said the craft made a "precautionary landing" during a flight from Misawa Air Base to its home base, Yokota Air Base. No injuries were reported. Operations for commercial flights continued as normal. Video from Japanese broadcaster NHK shows the aircraft taxiing to the apron where uniformed personnel could be seen on top of the aircraft, near the center, inspecting the aircraft. Japan's Defense Ministry says it has dispatched staff to the site and is in contact with U.S. forces. MORE: Pentagon to lift grounding order on V-22 Osprey, 3 months after deadly crash The landing came six days after another U.S. Osprey set down in Akita Prefecture for a safety inspection, according to Japanese officials. That aircraft remained on the ground for over seven hours. A U.S. military public affairs officer described the Thursday incident as a "precautionary landing." The V-22 Osprey has been involved in several incidents in recent years, including a crash off Yakushima, in southern Japan, in 2023 that killed eight and grounded the fleet for months. MORE: 4 US Marines killed in Osprey aircraft crash during training in Norway Cullen Drenkhahn, a 1st lieutenant serving as a public affairs advisor for the 353d Special Operations Wing Kadena AB, told ABC News, "I can confirm a U.S. CV-22 Osprey conducted a precautionary landing today at Iwate Hanamaki Airport at 9:45 a.m." "The landing was executed safely and in accordance with policies. An assessment is ongoing to gather additional information. No injuries or damages occurred. There were no interruptions to airport operations," Drenkhahn said. "The aircraft is assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing and was flying from Misawa Air Base to its home base, Yokota Air Base. He added, "No further information at this time. the safety of our pilots and aircrew, as well as the men and women of Japan is our foremost priority."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Bangladesh mourns as toll from jet crash at school hits 27
Families and teachers gathered Tuesday at a Bangladeshi school where a training fighter jet crashed, killing 25 children and two others in the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades. Most of the victims were pupils who had just been let out of class when the Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College on Monday. "So far, 27 people have died. Among them, 25 are children and one is a pilot," said Sayedur Rahman from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, updating an earlier death toll of 20. "Seventy-eight people are being treated in different hospitals," added Rahman, special assistant to the ministry's chief adviser. More than 170 people were injured in the crash, said the military which is investigating the cause. The usually bustling school was eerily quiet on Tuesday morning, with classes cancelled. "Along with the children, the school has lost its life," said teacher Shahadat Hossain, whose son narrowly escaped the crash. "There are two swings in front of the affected building. During lunch breaks and after school, children play there. Even yesterday, around the time the plane crashed, students were on those swings," the 45-year-old told AFP. Around 7,000 pupils are enrolled at the school, including Abul Bashar's sixth-grade son whose best friend was killed. "He came out just two or three minutes before the accident occurred," said Bashar. "He couldn't sleep through the night and forced me to bring him to school this morning," the father added, his son standing in silence. - Children's trauma - School authorities have collected bags, shoes, and identity cards of children from the site. Pahn Chakma, a senior police officer, said that armed forces personnel are still sweeping the area. "They will hand over the place to the police later, and we will then collect evidence, including any human remains or belongings of students and others," Chakma said. Air Force personnel on duty said the remnants of the fighter jet were removed on Monday night, but they are still scouring the site for evidence. "I don't know how long it will take to return to normalcy, to relieve the children from this trauma," teacher Hossain said. On Monday night, school authorities held prayers at the campus. Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the incident and declared a day of national mourning. "The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable," he said. "This is a moment of profound pain for the nation." The military said the pilot, flight lieutenant Towkir Islam, was on a routine training mission when the jet "reportedly encountered a mechanical failure". He tried to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas but, "despite his best efforts", crashed into the two-storey school building, the military said Monday. sa-mmd/asv/rsc
