(Franco Iacch)
09/24/16

http://www.difesaonline.it/mondo-militare/f-35a-incendio-su-un-velivolo-nuove-ombre-sullisolante-difettoso-si-teme-il-peggio

An F-35A has caught fire during a training exercise at the Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. It communicates what the Air Force in a statement.

The incident occurred yesterday, around twelve o'clock, and involved an F-35A from the 61st Fighter Squadron stationed at Luke Air Force Base. There are no injured, the fire was extinguished quickly. As a precautionary measure, both the pilot and the seven airmen of the ground staff, were transported in the medical center of the base. All have already been discharged.

Seven F-35A were deployed at the Mountain Home Air Force Base for the training of pilots. The Air Force immediately opened an investigation to determine the nature of the accident. Under observation the F135 engine manufactured by Pratt & Whitney F-35. It ignores, finally, if the burning of a few hours ago can be related to defective insulation problem that has grounded fifteen operational aircraft and affects other 42 F-35 production line. If confirmed the latter case, the problem defective insulation would extend not only to a production batch as previously thought, but to the entire model series A.

Last week, the Air Force has grounded fifteen F-35A after discovering a loss of refrigerant in the fuel tanks. Subsequent investigations confirmed the anomaly identified in the poor quality of the insulation used in some aircraft already at an advanced stage of decomposition.

The Air Force officially confirmed the use of insulation defective in 57 aircraft, 42 of which are in production line in Fort Worth, Texas. The faulty equipment was supplied by one of the subcontractors used by Lockheed Martin. Grounded ten F-35A deployed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, four in the Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and one at the Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Two of the four F-35A deployed at the base of Luke belong to Norway. In all airplanes of the same critical issues were identified. The coolant could have contaminated the fuel, but they are developing ways to solve or alleviate the problem. Until then, the F-35A treated with the defective insulation will remain on the ground.

Identified for the first time during the summer, the defective insulation problem was being organized by the Lockheed Martin an internal investigation. In the statement issued, Lockheed says that "the collapse of the insulation, it could occlude the connecting lines between the wings and fuselage. This could lead to an excessive negative pressure in the fuel tanks during ground operations or excessive positive during the flight. In both cases, the excessive pressure may cause structural damage to fuel tanks. "

The only bad insulation was used in the model to the F-35. No problem for versions B and C. The JPO (Joint Program Office) reaffirms manufacturing defect and not a technical problem that could affect airplane performance. Lockheed Martin states that the employment relationship with the company that provided the defective material is not in question. On 42 F-35A production line in Fort Worth, Texas, it was already used the defective insulation.

The JPO reassures the imminent start of repairs, but officially ignores timing. Among the fighters in the production line treated with the defective insulation include those purchased from Italy, Japan, Norway and Israel.

(Photo: web / U.S. Air Force)

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F-35A, a defective insulation used: 15 aircraft grounded, suspended production for another 42 aircraft

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