Pictures of testing of braking parachute pod: The F-35A that will be used by the Royal Norwegian Air force will have braking parachutes installed in a pod between the tail fins. Here are pictures of a test plane performing tests with the pod and parachute. Not sure if Norway will have the pod permenantly installed or only if needed. The pod can apparently be removed on and off.:


http://nettsteder.regjeringen.no/kampfl ... mseskjerm/

Great pictures! I wonder if the pod will affect the stealth of the aircraft much, or if at all. Probably a little bit of drag.

JetBuddy wrote:

Great pictures! I wonder if the pod will affect the stealth of the aircraft much, or if at all. Probably a little bit of drag.

it has been designed not to iterfeere with the stealth effect... atleast that is what is said by those who have worked on it ... We shall see

Personally I am a little dissepointed With the size of the thing. I had expected it to be smaller and not so prominent on the fuselage ...

Mortyman wrote:

JetBuddy wrote:

Great pictures! I wonder if the pod will affect the stealth of the aircraft much, or if at all. Probably a little bit of drag.

it has been designed not to iterfeere with the stealth effect... atleast that is what is said by those who have worked on it ... We shall see

Personally I am a little dissepointed With the size of the thing. I had expected it to be smaller and not so prominent on the fuselage ...

Yes, I was also surprised by the size of the pod. The F-16's pod seems much smaller. I believe the F-35 is a larger and heavier aircraft though, could be because of that.

How long does it take repack the chute?

JetBuddy wrote:

Mortyman wrote:

JetBuddy wrote:

Great pictures! I wonder if the pod will affect the stealth of the aircraft much, or if at all. Probably a little bit of drag.

it has been designed not to iterfeere with the stealth effect... atleast that is what is said by those who have worked on it ... We shall see

Personally I am a little dissepointed With the size of the thing. I had expected it to be smaller and not so prominent on the fuselage ...

Yes, I was also surprised by the size of the pod. The F-16's pod seems much smaller. I believe the F-35 is a larger and heavier aircraft though, could be because of that.

The size is about right for the concept drawings.


compared to


The F-16 chute isn't much smaller in terms of size, it is just located at the base of the vertical stabilizer so it blends into the fuselage better.

Why does Norway want this capability? What are the numbers on how much shorter the runway can be?

ssteve wrote:

Why does Norway want this capability? What are the numbers on how much shorter the runway can be?

Because of the climate conditions in Norway and not always long enough runways across the network of smaller airports in Norway. We have had this capability on mnay of Our former fighters, including the F-5 and F-16

I would think this would also have a lot to do with braking action concerns on a contaminated runway. I have no idea with this particular aircraft has in the way of "reverse thrust" capabilities, but having lots of experience with icy runways, I'd want something aside of brakes to help slow me down upon initial touchdown.

Pretty sure the F-35 has no reverse thrust option. So yeah, icy runways mean that drag chutes are wanted.

I do wonder if the mounting points are on all F-35s or just the Norwegian ones. I'm guessing it'll only be theirs.

ZaphodHarkonnen wrote:

Pretty sure the F-35 has no reverse thrust option. So yeah, icy runways mean that drag chutes are wanted.

I do wonder if the mounting points are on all F-35s or just the Norwegian ones. I'm guessing it'll only be theirs.

It will use the mounting points for the spin test recovery chute system, so nothing extra has to be added into the airframe, it just has to be selected during build.

moo wrote:

It will use the mounting points for the spin test recovery chute system, so nothing extra has to be added into the airframe, it just has to be selected during build.

Does that mean they can be retrofitted? At a higher labor cost of course.

moo wrote:

ZaphodHarkonnen wrote:

Pretty sure the F-35 has no reverse thrust option. So yeah, icy runways mean that drag chutes are wanted.

I do wonder if the mounting points are on all F-35s or just the Norwegian ones. I'm guessing it'll only be theirs.

It will use the mounting points for the spin test recovery chute system, so nothing extra has to be added into the airframe, it just has to be selected during build.

Actually the Norwegian ones are a bit different:

From an article in Norwegian technical Magazine:


In order to cope with the load it is to stop up the 30 tonnes of aircraft with a parachute, the rib at the back around the engine must be made in a stronger alloy than the one normally used, with more titanium,

The rib, as well as the cable up to a separate switch in front of the cockpit, are the only physical differences between Norwegian and other F-35 ( in adittion to the pod of course ) . The system retrieves power from the hydraulics of the aircraft.

Rib:




Chute switch in n F-16 to the left and the switch in an F-35 to the right:

Also have to remember that the F-35 is heavier than an F-16

Mortyman wrote:

moo wrote:

ZaphodHarkonnen wrote:

Pretty sure the F-35 has no reverse thrust option. So yeah, icy runways mean that drag chutes are wanted.

I do wonder if the mounting points are on all F-35s or just the Norwegian ones. I'm guessing it'll only be theirs.

It will use the mounting points for the spin test recovery chute system, so nothing extra has to be added into the airframe, it just has to be selected during build.

Actually the Norwegian ones are a bit different:

From an article in Norwegian technical Magazine:


In order to cope with the load it is to stop up the 30 tonnes of aircraft with a parachute, the rib at the back around the engine must be made in a stronger alloy than the one normally used, with more titanium,

The rib, as well as the cable up to a separate switch in front of the cockpit, are the only physical differences between Norwegian and other F-35 ( in adittion to the pod of course ) . The system retrieves power from the hydraulics of the aircraft.

Rib:




Chute switch in n F-16 to the left and the switch in an F-35 to the right:

As I said, it just has to be selected during the build - my "nothing needs to be added to the airframe" was meaning anything new and unique for this customer, the design and validation has already been done for a load bearing structure there.