F-35 ‘Frankenbird’ Makes Its First Flight
The first ever F-35 “Frankenbird” took its maiden flight this week. A previously crashed F-35A 17-5269 was taken and restored to flying condition by merging parts of another F-35A serial number 10-5015 damaged by an engine fire. The compilation of two separate multirole jets seems to be a significant step forward in the possibility of restoring damaged F-35A aircraft in the future.
The endeavor was undertaken by the 4th Fighter Generation Squadron’s maintenance teams. Despite the initial difficulty and necessity to design new tools and approaches to the task lying ahead, the team managed to restore the F-35A to flying condition. The overall cost of the operation was estimated at only $6 million, significantly cutting the expenses. However, the technicians had to order separate jet parts and apply a radar absorption coat cover to the jet once again. This demanding but meticulous job paid off as the jet was sent by Lockheed Martin for certification at Forth Worth AFB and recently took to the sky. The joint effort of the F-35 Joint Program Office, 388th Fighter Wing, Ogden Air Logistics Complex, and Lockheed Martin was completed at this stage of the project.
However, the project itself brought much more valuable assets than the new working fighter jet. The maintenance crew of the 4th FGS created a set of tools, procedures, and solutions for future potential F-35A restorations. The ability to maintain and reintroduce damaged jets is a necessary skill under various circumstances and it drastically reduces the overall costs sustained by the Air Force.
Despite no plans to reintroduce further damaged airframes, the undertaking can be deemed an astonishing success. The first refurbishment and reintroduction of a 5th generation multirole fighter jet marks a milestone in field maintenance and the possibility of rescuing combat-damaged jets in the future.