F-35 to make Paris Air Show debut

The U.S. Air ForceÕs F-35 stealth fighter is scheduled to appear at this yearÕs Paris Air Show, with Lockheed Martin pilots performing the
first aerial demonstration in the skies above Le Bourget

LOCKHEED MARTIN F-35A LIGHTNING II

U.S. Air Force variant, entered service in August 2016

Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan, up to 191kN thrust

Internal weapons: Two 900kg bombs, two air-to-air missiles, 25mm cannon 

Performance F-35A Sukhoi Su-30 Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet
 
Maximum speed Mach 1.6 2.0 1.8

Unrefuelled range km 2,220 3,000 2,350

Radar cross section sq m (lower = better) 0.005 4.0 1.0

POSSIBLE AEROBATIC MANOEUVRES

Aileron roll: Full 360¡ rotation about planeÕs longitudinal axis

Cobra: Pilot momentarily raises nose of plane to vertical position or slightly beyond before recovering

90¡

High alpha: Pilot pitches nose upwards while maintaining slow, level flight

Speed slows to about 150km/h

50¡

Sources: Aviation Week, Global Security, Kable, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy