Aviation Week reporting that:-
"a Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Lockheed Martin F-35A was saved Jan. 4 when the pilot chose to land the aircraft on its belly following an inflight mechanical malfunction.
The pilot was not injured, but the incident prompted ROKAF to ground its F-35A fleet.
ROKAF Vice Chief Of Staff Shin Ok-chul told the South Korea parliament that the pilot heard bangs while flying at low altitude. Checks showed that all systems malfunctioned except flight controls and the engine. Unable to lower the landing gear, the pilot chose to land with the gear up instead of ditching the aircraft.
The F-35A landed at Seosan air base, about 95 km away from the F-35 home base at Cheonju. Emergency services sprayed fire retardant foam on the runway to prevent the aircraft from burning.
It is the first known belly landing of an F-35 in the world, Shin said. It was also ROKAF’s first known F-35 incident. ROKAF has grounded all F-35 operations until a probe is completed."
Belly Landing Saves South Korea F-35A
- ForkTailedDevil
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Belly Landing Saves South Korea F-35A
Not to have an adequate air force is to compromise the foundations of freedom & independence.
Re: Belly Landing Saves South Korea F-35A
Has any other military fighter jet in modern times had this many issues?
Re: Belly Landing Saves South Korea F-35A
The F-16 had a high attrition rate in the early years and later too, in 1991 alone 36 aircraft were lost to mechanical issues. In early service it got the nickname "lawn dart".
The F-104 had a 30% attrition rate too.
The F-104 had a 30% attrition rate too.
Re: Belly Landing Saves South Korea F-35A
Taking the nickname aspect for the F-104, they're now affectionately referred to as 'Hooters', but prior to that the 'Flying Coffin' & 'The Widowmaker' were prevalent titles in defining their attrition rate. I'm also of the opinion that given the number of these jets in-service the F-35 losses across the types are 'reasonable' compared to previous complex jet aircraft. Notable in the subject incidents so far is that only the JSDF F-35 that crashed into the sea was a fatal event. (happy to be corrected?).
Re: Belly Landing Saves South Korea F-35A
I think the Lightning (EE/BAC) was worse than the F-104 in terms of attrition.
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Re: Belly Landing Saves South Korea F-35A
It's not exactly a new thing though is it? You have to wonder if the modern Air Staff would have ever put the Avro Manchester into service. Or the Bristol Bisley.
Further back the Sopwith Camel had a reputation as a pilot killer that was nothing to do with the effect of the enemy....
Further back the Sopwith Camel had a reputation as a pilot killer that was nothing to do with the effect of the enemy....
Re: Belly Landing Saves South Korea F-35A
The others have given but a handful of many examples but, short answer: yes.
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
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#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates
Re: Belly Landing Saves South Korea F-35A
8 Tornados were lost in 1984 alone, with a total number of 173 lost out of 990 built. 103 crew members were also lost and a number on the ground too, so this really isn't new