Hypothetical F-35B question
Posted by Dry_Sentence1703@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 12 comments
Good evening guys, please feel free to call me a moron im trying to learn more about aviation like I did as a kid.
So hypothetically if an F-35B was in flight post mission so limited fuel no munitions on board and the only thing near by is either an arleigh Burke (spelling) or a type 45 destroyer could they if they had the balls to do so land on the helipad. Im aware they'd likely ditch in the water if they had no other options but could they fit and what damage would be caused to the destroyer
FZ_Milkshake@reddit
They can fit wherever a normal medium sized helicopter, like a blackhawk fits.
Dry_Sentence1703@reddit (OP)
So theoretically they could land. Neat.
Wiggly-Pig@reddit
Theoretically they could but they'd ditch before considering trying
BrewCityChaserV2@reddit
I can only imagine being on that ship's bridge when that thing came in and landed. Probably would think I was hallucinating or something lol
oh_dear_now_what@reddit
Everyone else would be staring at it, too, so that’d confirm the worst.
general-noob@reddit
I think a harrier did it on a cargo ship, so totally possible. It’d melt the shit out or whatever it landed on though.
JimHFD103@reddit
Well, Amphibious Assault ships like the America-class, the Japanese don't-call-it-an-aircraft-carrier "Helicopter Destroyer" (although I believe they've since admitted and reclassified them to "Aircraft Carrying Multi-Role Escort Ships) Izumo-class, the Italian Aircraft Carrier Cavour have all needed their flight decks renovated and improved to be able to operate F-35B without damage that decks only rated for helos or AV-8 Harriers would sustain from an F-35 attempting landing.
So idk how much damage a Burke's flight deck would sustain, but it would be inoperable afterwards, unable to use her MH-60s (so hopefully any embarked weren't already in the air, or if so there being a friendly ship/airstrip they can put down at instead), and the ship would be destined for the repair yard..
Maybe the yard repair/ship out of action wouldn't cost as much as the jet does, but let's just hope the pilot doesn't get close enough to damage the deck and still manage to put the jet in the water due to lack of landing aids for the jet (plus any pitch/roll that the Burke will be doing will be way worse than a full size Amphib lol)
Tailhook91@reddit
It would probably make the flight deck unusable after. Vessels that operate them need special treatment on their flight decks to put up with the immense heat and exhaust blast forces from STOVL landings.
Careless-Resource-72@reddit
The home carrier better have a bunch of ice cream available and the F-35B maintenance crew will be working overtime cleaning graffiti off that plane.
Maybe they don’t do that anymore.
Dry_Sentence1703@reddit (OP)
Id imagine they dont these days due to the ram coating? No idea 😂
Kanyiko@reddit
Pictures of the aforementioned landing of Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA176 on the Spanish container ship Alraigo in 1983:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D22GidAWkAAJSar.jpg
The pilot's intention was to land it on top of the containers, however it rolled back and fell off.
The Sea Harrier in question, ZA176, was a veteran of the Falklands War (seen here after its return from the War and one year prior to the Alraigo incident).
It was subsequently repaired, converted to FA.2 standard in 1992; and withdrawn from service in 2004. Nowadays on display at the Newark Air Museum.
Dry_Sentence1703@reddit (OP)
That was the incident that made me think of the question