Also while the F-35 is the subject, not sure if any of you have seen this, but Avweek had an interesting bit about the F-16 and F-35 BFM test
from back in April, not long after the test occurred.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been flown in air-to-air combat maneuvers against F-16s for the first time and, based on the results of these and earlier flight-envelope evaluations, test pilots say the aircraft can be cleared for greater agility as a growth option.
Although the F-35 is designed primarily for attack rather than air combat, U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin test pilots say the availability of potential margin for additional maneuverability is a testament to the aircraft’s recently proven overall handling qualities and basic flying performance. “The door is open to provide a little more maneuverability,” says Lockheed Martin F-35 site lead test pilot David “Doc” Nelson.
The operational maneuvers were flown by Nelson in AF-2, the primary Flight Sciences loads and flutter evaluation aircraft, and one of nine F-35s used by the Edwards AFB-based 412th Test Wing for developmental testing (DT).
and
Work is underway as part of efforts to clear the final system development and demonstration (SDD) maneuvering envelopes on the way to initial operational capability (IOC)
and
The operational maneuver tests were conducted to see “how it would look like against an F-16 in the airspace,” says Col. Rod “Trash” Cregier, F-35 program director. “It was an early look at any control laws that may need to be tweaked to enable it to fly better in future. You can definitely tweak it—that’s the option.”
http://aviationweek.com/defense/f-35-fl ... -maneuvers
(To read this article, you need to register. Fortunately this is free (I'm not 100% certain of the stipulations, but that was what I did with no troubles)).
What's important to note is that this was a
Developmental test and not an
Operational test (which means that this test is
not meant to evaluate the operational capabilities of the F-35, but instead to test flight software for potential tweaks, which 'Doc' Nelson says can be done).
I'll see what else I can find, but it's clear that it's too early to tell just how maneuverable the F-35 will be when it hits block 3F or 4.
