Joanna Crews
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force have begun to test the performance of a drag chute that is designed for installation on Norway’s F-35A conventional takeoff and landing aircraft.
The company said Monday the initial icy runway ground test at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska is part of a certification process for the Norwegian F-35A drag chute and will run for several weeks to determine if the aircraft could withstand extreme weather.
USAF Maj. Jonathan Gilber serves as the test pilot and Maj. Eskil Amdal of Norway’s air force also participates in the demonstration.
The second phase of tests is scheduled to commence in first quarter of 2018 and will deploy the Norwegian drag chute in landing operations.
Lockheed noted the Netherlands also supports the development of the chute, which was subjected to initial wet and dry runway deployment tests at Edwards Air Force Base earlier this year.
