Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-35B>HA4616

General Background

The Lockheed F-35 is an advanced stealth fifth generation fighter combining speed and superb agility. There are three variants; F-35A, B and C. The F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing) and has four internal weapons stations in two weapons bays plus three optional external weapons stations. The F-35B STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) variant while the F-35C is a CV (Carrier Variant). The F-35 will replace the USAF A-10 and F-16, the F/A-18 for the USN and the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the USMC.

The Aircraft

In 2017 RAF and Royal Navy F-35B pilots would be trained by the No. 207 Squadron at RAF Markham. It wasn’t until July 16, 2019 that the first F-35s arrived and the F-35 Lightning Operational Conversion Unit stood up on August 1, 2019. The first batch of F-35s arrived in June 2018 with F-35B Lightning II ZM158 c/n 2BK0024 and two other aircraft as part of the fifth batch arrived on Thursday October 28, 2021. In February 2022 ZM158 was part of a fly past celebrating the 80th anniversary of the 8th Air Force.

Specifications :

Role:	Multi-role stealth fighter
First Flight:	December 16, 2006
Crew:
F-35A CTOL:	1
F-35B STOVL:	1
F-35C CV:	1
Powerplant:
F-35A:	1 x Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100, 40,000 lbs thrust with afterburner,25,000 lbs without.
F-35B:	1 x Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-600, 38,000 lbs thrust with afterburner,26,000 lbs without and 40,500 lbs vertical.
F-35C:	1 x Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100, 40,000 lbs thrust with afterburner,25,000 lbs without.
Internal Fuel Capacity:
F-35A:	18,250 lbs (8,278 kg)
F-35B:	13,500 lbs (6,125 kg)
F-35C:	19,750 lbs (8,960 kg)
Weights:
Empty:
F-35A:	29,300 lbs (13,000 kg)
F-35B:	32,300 lbs (14,700 kg)
F-35C:	34,800 lbs (15,800 kg)
Maximum:
F-35A:	70,000 lbs (31,800 kg)
F-35B:	60,000lbs (27,300 kg)
F-35C:	70,000 lbs (31,800 kg)
Dimensions:
F-35A:
Length:	51.4 ft (15.7 m)
Wingspan:	35 ft (10.7 m)
Height:	14.4 ft (4.38 m)
F-35B:
Length:	51.2 ft (15.6 m)
Wingspan:	35 ft (10.7 m)
Height:	14.3 ft (4.36 m)
F-35C:
Length:	51.5 ft (15.7 m)
Wingspan:	43 ft (13.1 m)
Height:	14.7 ft (4.48 m)
Performance:
Speed with full internal weapons load:
F-35A:	Mach 1.6
F-35B:	Mach 1.6
F-35C:	Mach 1.6
Combat Radius with internal fuel:
F-35A:	590 nm (1,093 km)
F-35B:	450 nm (833 km)
F-35C:	600 nm (1,100 km)
Range with internal fuel:
F-35A:	1,200 nm (2,200 km)
F-35B:	900 nm (1,667 km)
F-35C:	1,200 nm (2,200 km)
Weapons (Standard Internal):
F-35A:	1 x 25 mm GAU-22/A cannon
	2 x AIM-120C air-to-air missiles
	2 x 2,000 pound GBU-31 JDAM guided bombs
Weapons Payload:	18,000 lbs (8,160 kg)
F-35B:	2 x AIM-120C air-to-air missiles
	2 x 1,000 lb GBU32 JDAM guided bombs
F-35C:	2 x AIM-120C air-to-air missiles
	2 x 2,000 pound GBU-31 JDAM guided bombs