Article: F-35 can't use warm fuel
12-08-2014, 03:14 PM
#1
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Article: F-35 can't use warm fuel
According to this, the F-35 can't use warm fuel.
The F-35 Can't Run On Warm Gas From A Fuel Truck That Sat In The Sun
The F-35 program continues to work through a litany of problems, but this one is almost laughable. According to the USAF, the troubled fighter cannot use gas from standard green colored USAF fuel trucks if it has been sitting in the sun. Considering that these jets will most likely find themselves operating in the desert or in somewhere in the scorching Pacific, this is a big problem.
We Finally Know Why An F-35 Burned On The Runway
We are finally getting information as to what caused the F-35A engine fire that has left the entire … Read more
Sadly, the answer for the F-35's fuel finicky conundrum, one of many heat related issues with the jets since their testing began, is being addressed outside of the F-35 aircraft itself, in the form of repainting standard USAF fuel trucks with bright white solar reflective paint.
Clearly it is not tactical in any way to be driving a giant white potential fuel-bomb around a battle zone. This is especially true considering that the F-35B variant is supposed to operate 'forward' from austere fields. Still, the solar reflective paint job, that costs around four grand for each truck, seems to be less expensive than fixing the issue on the jet itself, as there is no word of that happening.
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The F-35 Can't Run On Warm Gas From A Fuel Truck That Sat In The Sun Expand
Senior Airman Jacob Hartman, of the 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS), a fuels distribution operator at Luke AFB, describes the situation:
"We painted the refuelers white to reduce the temperature of fuel being delivered to the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter... The F-35 has a fuel temperature threshold and may not function properly if the fuel temperature is too high, so after collaborating with other bases and receiving waiver approval from (the Air Education Training Command), we painted the tanks white."
Chief Master Sgt. Ralph Resch, the 56th LRS fuels manager added:
"We are taking proactive measures to mitigate any possible aircraft shutdowns due to high fuel temperatures in the future. It ensures the F-35 is able to meet its sortie requirements... This is the short-term goal to cool the fuel for the F-35; however, the long-term fix is to have parking shades for the refuelers."
Luke AFB is not the first base to run into this issue, with Edwards AFB discovering the problem and initiating the fuel truck repaint solution some time ago. The USAF has some hope that the reflective paint process can be applied to a similar green color as the standard issue refueling trucks used by the USAF. A test will soon occur with a white truck and a green truck, with both being painted with a special solar reflective coating, to see if the green truck plus the reflective coating will keep the F-35's life-force cool enough under the sun for the jet not to have to shut down immediately after start-up due to heating issues.
What is most telling about this strange story is that the USAF thinks a long-term solution to the F-35's warm fuel problem is to park their fuel trucks under purpose-built shade structures. Yet isn't fixing the aircraft's low fuel temperature 'threshold' issue itself more of an honest, robust and logical solution? Like so many things F-35, maybe the operating margins are just too thin for an affordable aircraft-based fix to be plausible.
The F-35 channels its strong thermal loads, accumulated by the powerful avionics and sub-systems on-board, as well as the engine, into its fuel. So really, the fuel works as a giant heat sink. If the fuel is already warm upon start-up, there is less capacity to exchange the heat from their aircraft's simmering systems. Therefore the jet must shut down or risk overheating. A clever design that most likely lightens up the jet and leaves extra room for weapons and fuel, but one that may have very little room for adaptation.
The simple fact that the F-35 is one finicky eater even after many years of development and costly design changes, along with the reality that bright white fuel trucks may become standard issue on F-35 flightlines, are just more sorry reminders of how this supposedly super-capable fighter will come with a long list of limitations and operational caveats, along with its one and a half trillion dollar bill.
The F-35 Can't Run On Warm Gas From A Fuel Truck That Sat In The Sun
The F-35 program continues to work through a litany of problems, but this one is almost laughable. According to the USAF, the troubled fighter cannot use gas from standard green colored USAF fuel trucks if it has been sitting in the sun. Considering that these jets will most likely find themselves operating in the desert or in somewhere in the scorching Pacific, this is a big problem.
We Finally Know Why An F-35 Burned On The Runway
We are finally getting information as to what caused the F-35A engine fire that has left the entire … Read more
Sadly, the answer for the F-35's fuel finicky conundrum, one of many heat related issues with the jets since their testing began, is being addressed outside of the F-35 aircraft itself, in the form of repainting standard USAF fuel trucks with bright white solar reflective paint.
Clearly it is not tactical in any way to be driving a giant white potential fuel-bomb around a battle zone. This is especially true considering that the F-35B variant is supposed to operate 'forward' from austere fields. Still, the solar reflective paint job, that costs around four grand for each truck, seems to be less expensive than fixing the issue on the jet itself, as there is no word of that happening.
7 Things The Marines Have To Do To Make The F-35B Worth The Huge Cost
After years of passing more conventional capabilities by, I think it is time for the Marine Corps,… Read more
The F-35 Can't Run On Warm Gas From A Fuel Truck That Sat In The Sun Expand
Senior Airman Jacob Hartman, of the 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS), a fuels distribution operator at Luke AFB, describes the situation:
"We painted the refuelers white to reduce the temperature of fuel being delivered to the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter... The F-35 has a fuel temperature threshold and may not function properly if the fuel temperature is too high, so after collaborating with other bases and receiving waiver approval from (the Air Education Training Command), we painted the tanks white."
Chief Master Sgt. Ralph Resch, the 56th LRS fuels manager added:
"We are taking proactive measures to mitigate any possible aircraft shutdowns due to high fuel temperatures in the future. It ensures the F-35 is able to meet its sortie requirements... This is the short-term goal to cool the fuel for the F-35; however, the long-term fix is to have parking shades for the refuelers."
Luke AFB is not the first base to run into this issue, with Edwards AFB discovering the problem and initiating the fuel truck repaint solution some time ago. The USAF has some hope that the reflective paint process can be applied to a similar green color as the standard issue refueling trucks used by the USAF. A test will soon occur with a white truck and a green truck, with both being painted with a special solar reflective coating, to see if the green truck plus the reflective coating will keep the F-35's life-force cool enough under the sun for the jet not to have to shut down immediately after start-up due to heating issues.
What is most telling about this strange story is that the USAF thinks a long-term solution to the F-35's warm fuel problem is to park their fuel trucks under purpose-built shade structures. Yet isn't fixing the aircraft's low fuel temperature 'threshold' issue itself more of an honest, robust and logical solution? Like so many things F-35, maybe the operating margins are just too thin for an affordable aircraft-based fix to be plausible.
The F-35 channels its strong thermal loads, accumulated by the powerful avionics and sub-systems on-board, as well as the engine, into its fuel. So really, the fuel works as a giant heat sink. If the fuel is already warm upon start-up, there is less capacity to exchange the heat from their aircraft's simmering systems. Therefore the jet must shut down or risk overheating. A clever design that most likely lightens up the jet and leaves extra room for weapons and fuel, but one that may have very little room for adaptation.
The simple fact that the F-35 is one finicky eater even after many years of development and costly design changes, along with the reality that bright white fuel trucks may become standard issue on F-35 flightlines, are just more sorry reminders of how this supposedly super-capable fighter will come with a long list of limitations and operational caveats, along with its one and a half trillion dollar bill.
12-08-2014, 06:17 PM
#2
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
Posts: 5,681
The so-called "solution" is to paint the fuel trucks a reflective color, and park them under sun shelters. 
I guess the Air Force doesn't realize the trucks get their fuel from giant above-ground tanks....that sit in the sun.
So, we will see a program to put the main POL farm inside giant air-conditioned buildings. Legions of third-country nationals will chase the trucks down the flightline, carrying huge parasols.
Since this will add cost, the BX, Commissary, Day Care, and clinic will be sold to private corporations, just like base housing.
In a move of marketing genius, Lockheed will propose not SELLING the F-35s to the armed services, but leasing them. each pilot will be given a yearly budget for fuel, maintenance, and weapons. It will be his task to manage those funds and maintain mission-readiness. Those who excel will be promoted and do fly-bys at football games. Those who fail will conduct diversity training and get non-vol 365 rotations to the worst place we currently operate.
Borrowing from the Regionals, new Air Force pilots will have training contracts, and make $19k a year. There will be a flow-through program to the Australian Air Force.
Still short on cash, The Navy will allow corporate sponsorship of planes and pilots. Green or tan flight suits will be bright red, or heat reflective white, and make NASCAR look subdued.
I guess the Air Force doesn't realize the trucks get their fuel from giant above-ground tanks....that sit in the sun.
So, we will see a program to put the main POL farm inside giant air-conditioned buildings. Legions of third-country nationals will chase the trucks down the flightline, carrying huge parasols.
Since this will add cost, the BX, Commissary, Day Care, and clinic will be sold to private corporations, just like base housing.
In a move of marketing genius, Lockheed will propose not SELLING the F-35s to the armed services, but leasing them. each pilot will be given a yearly budget for fuel, maintenance, and weapons. It will be his task to manage those funds and maintain mission-readiness. Those who excel will be promoted and do fly-bys at football games. Those who fail will conduct diversity training and get non-vol 365 rotations to the worst place we currently operate.
Borrowing from the Regionals, new Air Force pilots will have training contracts, and make $19k a year. There will be a flow-through program to the Australian Air Force.
Still short on cash, The Navy will allow corporate sponsorship of planes and pilots. Green or tan flight suits will be bright red, or heat reflective white, and make NASCAR look subdued.
12-08-2014, 08:00 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: A-300 F/O
Posts: 281
Originally Posted by Grumble
Cut the losses, pinch this turd, and scrap them all.
https://www.facebook.com/F4Phorever
12-09-2014, 07:23 PM
#7
Da Hudge
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Poodle Whisperer
Posts: 17,473
Nothing like the modern US government to not only bring you a cheap hunk of junk, but ensure that cheap hunk of junk costs billions of dollars.
All so some politicians can make sure their buddies get their contracts leeching off the government.
All so some politicians can make sure their buddies get their contracts leeching off the government.
12-10-2014, 04:01 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,026
Known: The fuel works as a giant heat sink in the F-35. If the fuel is already warm upon startup, there is less capacity to exchange the heat from the aircraft’s avionics and sub-systems thus, the 35 must shutdown.
Kind of known: Engineers say this is not supposed to be a problem at altitude or with sufficient airflow. Is this working correctly for in-flight ops?
Unknown...maybe: What about the extra thermal loads from taxi, descent, supersonic burst, and times when high-power electronic payloads (we know what this means) are active? Wonder if these areas are actually causing any issues?
Kind of known: Engineers say this is not supposed to be a problem at altitude or with sufficient airflow. Is this working correctly for in-flight ops?
Unknown...maybe: What about the extra thermal loads from taxi, descent, supersonic burst, and times when high-power electronic payloads (we know what this means) are active? Wonder if these areas are actually causing any issues?
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