Mystery F-35 pic. . .

[Hanse]

Anybody know the story behind this?



Forward fuselage looks a lot more. . .traditional than the production version. Looks like it's got the X-35 style intake, but the body looks like it drops down more than an F-35A. ???

 

[Sundog]

It looks to me like it's just testing the aerodynamics up to the inlets. Because, if it was a different design then the cockpit is also raised up above the rear of the fuselage. I think it just required the belly for the flow through the model inlets.

 

[fightingirish]

These links found with Google Picture Search.

Joint Strike Fighter model in a x6 supersonic wind tunnel at the NASA Glenn Research Center’s (GRC) research facilities and laboratories

Links:
http://www.sierralobo.com/government-services/fixed-and-rotary-wing-aircraft-testing/#!prettyPhoto
http://www.sierralobo.com/work/tfome/

 

[Hanse]

It's the same picture. That's where it came from.

 

[marauder2048]

Did McAir's CDD JSF come together in a closet with Lockheed's design?

 

[flateric]

Forward fuselage looks a lot more. . .traditional than the production version. Looks like it's got the X-35 style intake, but the body looks like it drops down more than an F-35A. ???

If flying F-35 is iteration dubbed 240-4.7, one can imagine how much were tested prior final one was made. At certain stage F-35 had F-22 style inlet

 

[dark sidius]

What is it ? new inlet for another engine ? or something else ?

 

[Hanse]

What is it ? new inlet for another engine ? or something else ?

It's an older picture. X-35 style inlets and non-stealth canopy.