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Question: Although the F-35 represents a very new capability, it stands on the back of
what has been done in the past, and harvests the results of significant work from be-
fore and operational achievements of earlier air systems.

How do you view this aspect of the learning curve?

Briggs: You have hit upon an important point.

The handling characteristics of the aircraft are unprecedented.

Its flight controls scheme and the amount of automation are re-shaping the pilot’s role,
allowing them to focus on the tactical and strategic aspects of their mission, rather than
on how they control the aircraft to be in the right part of the sky at the right time, or
how they will recover aboard a pitching carrier at night.

We are where we are because the F-35 program has leveraged the development work of
programs like the A-12 and the Navy’s MAGIC CARPET initiative, as well as the signif-
icant investments in risk reduction that were made early in the F-35 program.

The investments in risk reduction during the concept demonstration phase of the pro-
gram and the final aircraft, which are now being built, has been significant.

And these investments are paying off in the robustness of the F-35B lift fan and propul-
sion system, in the precision of the flight control system, and other key elements that
make this a very effective aircraft from a flying characteristic point of view.

Question: The Navy seems to rotate the test pilots here from operational squadrons
into the test program. How important is that?

CDR Murphy: Very important.

From a test perspective, having recent operational experience allows a test pilot to tie
any aircraft deficiencies directly to the impact that deficiency might have on the mis-
sion.

When test pilots rotate back to the fleet, they take with them the knowledge and experi-

ence they have gained working on their particular program, in this case the F-35.

Second Line of Defense Lessons Learned at Pax River
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