Too Heavy to Hover? The Brits found a solution! F-35B Lightning II SRVL (MSFS) 

Well I did do a CASE 3 STOVL video with poor weather. I do wish that MSFS focused on the ship dynamics, even a basic pitching and rolling motion would be nice. As for night… I think the buggy HUD would give me a headache! 😅 Perhaps over the DCS for some better ship stuff.

@@cgaviator Ships and the Oggin isn't the place for RAF guys. Stick to the seedy flesh pots of Deci in Sardinia.

@@jjsmallpiece9234 lol, that’s precisely why I avoided volunteering for the F35!

@@cgaviator Can't be having those rough navy lads corrupting the morals of a clean living RAF boy.

@@jjsmallpiece9234 seamen you mean! 😂

Lol, yeah! 😂

The other thing missing is the Sir before his name. It's a disgrace that a man who did more for British aviation than anybody was never given a knighthood when tv stars and sports stars have!

@@B-A-L Agreed. The man was a legend and I can't think of anyone from any nation who can remotely compare to Eric Brown. Every aspect of his career is of historical significance and as you say, its a travesty he didn't get a knighthood.

I cannot add anything to the comments already made.

I think they use it on land, but they don’t operate the F35s from big carrier decks, mostly LHAs or whatever they are.

To be fair a lot of these guy's would have experience using Harrier's with much less power and far more complicated control's. I've no doubt the US Marine pilots would have been able to perfect this idea pretty quickly too.

There's historic precedent, the Royal Navy figured how to reliably land the F4U Corsair on a carrier in WW2.

@@tedb.5707 I think the thing to mention here is that the Royal Navy solved all the carrier problems and the rest of the world followed suit, ie, angled flight deck. Incidentally, do you know why the Island is always on the starboard side?

@@mikestrohm3271 The first aircraft carriers had propeller powered aircraft. On these aircraft the prop turned clockwise, creating torque which tried to force the aircraft to roll counterclockwise, or left. An injured pilot, or an aircraft out of trim due to damage would roll left. So the island was on the right & it’s stuck through tradition ever since.

Real world with a strong hint of poetic licence! 😂 But thanks, always appreciated 👍🏻

B35 Kamakhazi the worst failure in the history of military aviation and the RN that has cancelled half its order pretending they can get it to work. If only Benny Hill was still alive imagine the comedy skits he could do. A carrier with no crew and an aircraft that is barely airworthy. 16 years past its official delivery date the US was supposed to get 4250 alone plus its vassals share hundreds more a little over 1200 made all up. Due to be out of service in 2040 that's now 2070. Israelistan 🇺🇲 announced if its vassals want any of the 1000+ faults fixed they will have to pay CASH UP FRONT 🤣 those silly enough to believe this garbage you will be old men before it goes out of service. Britain the "mouse that roared" Kamakhazi? Kama a tribute to Japanese pilots who sacrificed their lives and Khazi UK slang for a toilet.

mfs isn't even a simulator it's more an arcade game. The only thing it has as a simulator is the fact that you can interact with the cockpit

Have you tried carrier landings on DCS yet? I can't speak for the Harrier but even in the Hornet they can be wild

Its awesome isnt it getting to fly the actual planes with the correct maneuvres without actually having to risk ur life 😂😂

My pleasure as always! 50/50 RN/RAF pilots though

Hey, thanks! Really appreciated!

Yeah, someone mentioned that! May have to give it a go!

I have plans to give that a go also!

The technique was first learned to cope with the long nose of the Spitfire.

@@grahvis yes, I used that approach in my recent spitfire video 👍🏻

Lol, thanks! It’s a very basic implementation, I wonder if MSFS would allow them to make it less buggy and more realistic

Thanks! I think I’m setting my bar too high… takes forever to edit! 😅

Absolutely my pleasure, thank you 👍🏻

My pleasure, glad it was useful 👍🏻

Thank you kindly, and it sure does look amazing!

B35 Kamakhazi the worst failure in the history of military aviation and the RN that has cancelled half its order pretending they can get it to work. If only Benny Hill was still alive imagine the comedy skits he could do. A carrier with no crew and an aircraft that is barely airworthy. 16 years past its official delivery date the US was supposed to get 4250 alone plus its vassals share hundreds more a little over 1200 made all up. Due to be out of service in 2040 that's now 2070. Israelistan 🇺🇲 announced if its vassals want any of the 1000+ faults fixed they will have to pay CASH UP FRONT 🤣 those silly enough to believe this garbage you will be old men before it goes out of service. Britain the "mouse that roared" Kamakhazi? Kama a tribute to Japanese pilots who sacrificed their lives and Khazi UK slang for a toilet.

@@yfelwulf think they dreamt big and lost their pocket money!

My pleasure! Thanks

Thanks so much, much appreciated!

I like to keep it concise! 😁

Thank you! I can’t guarantee they’ll all be like this! 😅 But I’ve got some plans and looking forward to it 👍🏻

Will do, it’s like a full time job, but it’s good fun!

Thank you kindly!

Thanks so much, very kind!

Lol, pleasure to be a part of it! 😁

Will do 👍🏻👍🏻

We’re a clever bunch that’s for sure! 😁

I'm absolutely sure he would have enjoyed flying this aircraft. Compared to the Harrier he most likely would've tested, the automation makes STVOL so much more easy. The man is a legend in my eyes.

Oh yes, very much so! Watched a low approach at Linton, incredible!

The harrier was pretty loud. I've never seen an F-35 in the flesh. How does it compare?

@@andrewfreeman5109 I saw the harrier a few times as a kid I don’t remember it being as loud as the F-35. The engine is truly massive.

Thank you 🙏🏻

Thanks very much 😁👍🏻

The visuals are quite something!

I was planning to do some overhead patterns in the F15… just never got around to it! It’s on the todo list. Also can’t wait for the DCS F15 soon!

@@cgaviator can't wait to see some F15 flights then

Are you serious you're having a laugh right B35 Kamakhazi the worst failure in the history of military aviation and the RN that has cancelled half its order pretending they can get it to work. If only Benny Hill was still alive imagine the comedy skits he could do. A carrier with no crew and an aircraft that is barely airworthy. 16 years past its official delivery date the US was supposed to get 4250 alone plus its vassals share hundreds more a little over 1200 made all up. Due to be out of service in 2040 that's now 2070. Israelistan 🇺🇲 announced if its vassals want any of the 1000+ faults fixed they will have to pay CASH UP FRONT 🤣 those silly enough to believe this garbage you will be old men before it goes out of service. Britain the "mouse that roared" Kamakhazi? Kama a tribute to Japanese pilots who sacrificed their lives and Khazi UK slang for a toilet.

@@yfelwulf what are you going on about? I talked about the F-15 which to this time holds world records to this day... I think you mixes your comments up with someone else..

Thank you kindly 👍🏻

Thanks 👍🏻

🇬🇧

I think they tried to change their mind, but ultimately having Diesel engines, and a lack of steam for the catapults meant they couldn’t change their mind

@@cgaviator There was an offer on the table of building four nuclear powered CATABAR carriers together with the French as France needed replacement for the Charles de Gaulle. The Charles de Gaulle is considered to be a "mini Nimitz" and was the best carrier outside the US. The CDSG replacement would have been vastly superior to anything the Russians or China would havew been able to build within the next 20 years. Ordering 4 would have made it cheaper, too.

Thank you 🙏🏻

It’s good fun, especially trying to fly by the numbers (even if I made them up somewhat!) 😅 Enjoy 👍🏻

Thanks, really appreciate it 👍🏻

I’m always a fan of hanging stuff under the wings. Very old school!

Fast jets and flight sims… my wheel house! Though I do through in other stuff occasionally

Thank you!

Haha… had me for a minute! 19 yrs ago! 😂

Great to hear 👍🏻

A very good looking sim… and yes, a real pilot 👍🏻

Yeah, I think they’re great! Could use some work on the static aircraft on the deck, but overall they look amazing! Just hope MSFS find it in themselves to promote realistic boat dynamics!

Britain can't even get crew for its single carrier they can barely get a ship to sea the reason they're pissed at Russia that spoiled their plans to get cheap NAZI made ships from Ukraine. Churchill must be rolling in his grave. B35 Kamakhazi the worst failure in the history of military aviation and the RN that has cancelled half its order pretending they can get it to work. If only Benny Hill was still alive imagine the comedy skits he could do. A carrier with no crew and an aircraft that is barely airworthy. 16 years past its official delivery date the US was supposed to get 4250 alone plus its vassals share hundreds more a little over 1200 made all up. Due to be out of service in 2040 that's now 2070. Israelistan 🇺🇲 announced if its vassals want any of the 1000+ faults fixed they will have to pay CASH UP FRONT 🤣 those silly enough to believe this garbage you will be old men before it goes out of service. Britain the "mouse that roared" Kamakhazi? Kama a tribute to Japanese pilots who sacrificed their lives and Khazi UK slang for a toilet. B35 Kamakhazi the worst failure in the history of military aviation and the RN that has cancelled half its order pretending they can get it to work. If only Benny Hill was still alive imagine the comedy skits he could do. A carrier with no crew and an aircraft that is barely airworthy. 16 years past its official delivery date the US was supposed to get 4250 alone plus its vassals share hundreds more a little over 1200 made all up. Due to be out of service in 2040 that's now 2070. Israelistan 🇺🇲 announced if its vassals want any of the 1000+ faults fixed they will have to pay CASH UP FRONT 🤣 those silly enough to believe this garbage you will be old men before it goes out of service. Britain the "mouse that roared" Kamakhazi? Kama a tribute to Japanese pilots who sacrificed their lives and Khazi UK slang for a toilet.

Too true! Even F18 approach speeds and alpha are specific to give the perfect amount of nose up attitude to catch the wire.

I’m sure the F35 would make it easier! I’m wondering if the F35 can fly the needles in near zero vis.

@@cgaviator You’d hope no vis flying systems have improved since 1982. 🤣

@@rednaughtstudios they have, though the risk appetite is a lot lower! 😅

@@cgaviator Yeah but we were at war in the Falklands conflict. I'm sure the risk appetite would change if the UK found itself at war again.

@@owensmith7530 yup, it totally would!

Thanks 👍🏻

Yeah, it’s a bug somewhere. Shame, it’s a bit of an immersion killer

The Under helm stildies not work pilots claim there is so much crap on 5he visor 5gey can barely see out of the cockpit. The helmet shifts on launch due to faulty nose struts and wheel its 5lb plus weight injures their necks. B35 Kamakhazi the worst failure in the history of military aviation and the RN that has cancelled half its order pretending they can get it to work. If only Benny Hill was still alive imagine the comedy skits he could do. A carrier with no crew and an aircraft that is barely airworthy. 16 years past its official delivery date the US was supposed to get 4250 alone plus its vassals share hundreds more a little over 1200 made all up. Due to be out of service in 2040 that's now 2070. Israelistan 🇺🇲 announced if its vassals want any of the 1000+ faults fixed they will have to pay CASH UP FRONT 🤣 those silly enough to believe this garbage you will be old men before it goes out of service. Britain the "mouse that roared" Kamakhazi? Kama a tribute to Japanese pilots who sacrificed their lives and Khazi UK slang for a toilet.

I’m not sure if it had space on the small carriers to do this?

For real?

Thanks 🙏🏻

Any idea where one can get the charts for case 1, 2 & 3 etc. For F/A-18 (US) ops, I’d check out the NATOPS manual which is publicly available. Is there such a thing for UK Ops 🤔

@@rkmyersuk I don’t think it’s publicly available, I’ve not seen it. I use the NATOPS manual as I’m guessing they’re very similar. And then just follow the profile using G35 techniques 👍🏻

Thought that might be the case (no pun intended), thank you!

@@rkmyersuk lol! Oh, forgive the poor typing… not G35 obviously! 😅

Not where I’d call home for an F35! 😂

The B35 Kamakhazi can barely make 54% line ready a true Hangar Queen 35 nan hours of service for every hour if flight only outdone by the F22 Craptor at 40 hours

Well, it’s a bit swings and roundabouts as the benefits of another type also have downsides. Usually add expense!

I thought they used the VAAC to figure the plan for the F35?

@@cgaviator I think you’re right, that’s what the VAAC was for. But I got WAFU mates who will swear it was something they wanted for the SHARs as they always had to punch off ordinance and dump fuel before recovering. Lack of organic carrier aircraft they binned the idea off as it would have been a really intensive training serial and expensive upgrade for a capability rarely used.

Settings is easy! Everything on High with perhaps textures, shadow and filtering to ultra 👍🏻

@@cgaviator Awesome thanks very much ill be sure to give it a go keep up the good work !

@@jjbop4514 Wilco 😁

Sim is the only place it will ever work B35 Kamakhazi the worst failure in the history of military aviation and the RN that has cancelled half its order pretending they can get it to work. If only Benny Hill was still alive imagine the comedy skits he could do. A carrier with no crew and an aircraft that is barely airworthy. 16 years past its official delivery date the US was supposed to get 4250 alone plus its vassals share hundreds more a little over 1200 made all up. Due to be out of service in 2040 that's now 2070. Israelistan 🇺🇲 announced if its vassals want any of the 1000+ faults fixed they will have to pay CASH UP FRONT 🤣 those silly enough to believe this garbage you will be old men before it goes out of service. Britain the "mouse that roared" Kamakhazi? Kama a tribute to Japanese pilots who sacrificed their lives and Khazi UK slang for a toilet.

True, but with approach aids this can be done in much worse weather. Or the weapons jettisoned and a more ‘conventional’ hover landing achieved.

Sure. Its not perfect, and you may not be able to bring home everything everytime , but it is an excellent start. Remember too that these parameters can be programmed into the individual machine systems, **and the training simulators**. The learning > application , feedback loop is accelerated by excellent test pilots and engineering. This will not only make make it safer, they may even find out it can go even further and in more places, conditions. The US marines in particular will be taking furious notes.

That’s crap, sorry I didn’t know it wasn’t operational. Bet if they found an urgent need it would very quickly become SOP!

SRVL code was all paid for by the UK Government....a huge amount of coding for F-35 is undertaken by BAE Systems at Samlesbury in the UK...they've been brought in to attempt to fix the mess that LM had made.... The reason why SRVL has not been progressed further is purely due to Prince of Wales propulsion issues. Another round of tests were due off the East Coast of the US last year using the ITF aircraft, of which the UK owns 3, this was postponed as a result of PoW having to go to dry dock. It will be undertaken again once PoW deploys to the East Coast... But the need for SRVL is not that pressing at the moment. As Storm Shadow was removed from the weapons integation work many years ago, due to delays in the JSF programme, the need for bring back of heavy stores has decreased. Current UK air weapons max load on F-35B is around 5,500lbs (6x Paveway IV, 2 x Asraam, 2 x Amraam). In 2028 when Block IV (might) arrive that will increase by about 1,000lbs to c6,500lbs (8 x Spear, 2 x Meteor, 4 x Paveway IV and 2 x Asraam). Both of those figures are easily in the F-35B's vertical landing limits, even in tropical conditions with fuel onboard. And if the F-135 gets the proposed upgrades even more so... As a result SRVL is not required operationally at present, other developments can take the front seat. If and when external tanks, potentially buddy stores and the FCASW munition are cleared on F-35B from 2030 onwards SRVL may then become necessary in some limited circumstances.

@@dogsnads5634 great knowledge, thanks! Definitely need to prioritise carrying more fuel and stores!

Jealousy is obviously a part of this ! British boats ? The British carriers who invented most technology from steam catapult, Angled deck , Optical Landing System, Radar , armoured deck, STOVL and actually passed over EMALS from EMKITS but didn’t stick a ridiculous Nuclear Reactor onboard because when you actually take one to war you’ll find out why

He talks utter 💩trying to say that the USA taxpayers fund everything

IIRC the Amphibs don't have that much room for it. Meanwhile the RN's carriers actually have a fair bit of room on the deck for landing in this way so its much more of a standard procedure.

I’d not heard of that, would be very scary with such a narrow space. Yet the US thought it was a crazy idea to do a rolling landing on deck with an F35! But then I’m only going on third hand info 😅

The brits 1st did this with the Harrier

Good knowledge, I need to try that!

Yup, I think they’re testing for when they need to move serious payload and hovering isn’t an option if they return early or without dropping the weapons.

So could the harriers jump jet at a fraction of the price

@@janewilkin1984 I believe the harriers quite often had to drop any unspent weapons prior to landing. And sadly they were subsonic, not stealthy and had very limited sensor capability.

They did use the VAAC Harrier to trial it I think. I’m not sure if there’s enough safety margin/space on an LHA? Just guessing

Well… I thought about the dambusters one, but that’s against my principle as I’m more of an IX(B) kinda guy! 👍🏻

People have mentioned it a few times but I haven’t found any references of harriers doing this onto a deck?

@@cgaviator from what I remember the process for landing on an Invicible Class vessel to fly the approach parallel to the deck until along the spit on the deck you were going to land on then slide side ways before dropping down on to the landing spot. All done whilst the ship was underway, a ship not fitted with directable propulsion has to maintain a certain forward speed otherwise it loses controllability in the same way conventional aircraft have a minimum speed were the traditional flight controls lose effectiveness.. You can't do that if you are coming down vertically with no forward motion. The RAF were doing rolling landings to prevent soil erosion at landing sites. Back in 2008 QinetiQ's Harrier T.4 Vectored-thrust Advanced Aircraft Control testbed aircraft to complete shipborne rolling vertical landing trails on the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as part of the programme of tests for the F-35 project. This aircraft was also used stri g ghe 1970s to develop the process of landing Sea Harriers at night and in poor weather.

@@neiloflongbeck5705 roger

Yup, but not so far as I can tell, on a ship

​@@cgaviator HMS Illustrious 2008..

@@blazer666del I’ll check it out 👍🏻

Thanks

Yup and yup 👍🏻

Very true!

Thanks 🙏🏻

Yup but the flight characteristics are slightly off in terms of STOVL capabilities and pitch angles

I would only be guessing but I think it would be about the same. 60kt is very slow for what these tyres are rated for. And they don’t slam onto the deck like an F18 catching a wire does.

@@cgaviator Thanks for answering.

😂 and then point it backwards for added ship thrust!

@@cgaviator Exactly, see? Everyone thinks giant aircraft lofting fans are a stupid idea until they don't... ;-)

@@Belzediel 😂

Oh yes! 😁

There’s a little bit of technique going in here. Usually this would be a Case 1 approach as I mentioned and the gear would be lowered as soon as rolling out downwind. The other option is a full straight in or instrument approach where the aircraft would be established at 1200ft and 12 miles and configured between 9-11 miles ish. I did a mix of both as I didn’t want to lengthen the video by going all the way to 12 miles. There’s no issue with dropping the gear where I did. From what I understand the aircraft would auto trim (normally you’d expect the aircraft to climb when flap is lowered, though flap is automatic in this aircraft). So it shouldn’t be too much extra effort for the pilot. Hope that answers the question?

RAF and RN share pilots but I think it’s an RAF asset. I think about 40? But that’s a guess

Ok thanks

I doubt for many reasons they’d choose to go faster. And they don’t need to carry too much extra in terms of payload. The flight model/pitch angle on approach in STOVL mode would make the nose hit first so it would look ugly. I could give it a go. Have a carrier landing trial video!

The ramp is for takeoff -- if you use it for landings too you'll halve your sortie rate.

@@JohnHughesChampigny The maximum possible sortie rate yes. Carrier don’t always operate at the maximum sortie rate.

Recommend a large CVN! 😅

Landing mirrors? You mean the OLS?

I had the impression that mirrors were used first, could be wrong!

@@deputyheadboy1 ah, no, I misunderstood. Think they used a guy waving white boards first! 😅

Mirrors were the next iteration and superior.

Think there is a small island thing around there but it doesn’t render quite right in the sim

Thanks, and I wouldn't know my DLSS3 from my elbow! Lol

@@cgaviator in which case pal, it's not that. ;-)

Oh that’s awesome! Thanks for commenting. What were you doing? Or just loitering waiting for a crash! 😂

@@cgaviator I was there as an engineer for the embarked helicopters. Just happened to witnesd it.

@@chrislewis8714 nice! I’ve not visited a carrier other than museum.

It’s getting very good, that’s for sure!

@@cgaviator Yes i had to look twice I must get the new msfs, hope my old i7 4790k 1080ti runs it

@@somethingelse4878 I used to run a 980Ti and it did fine without added traffic etc.

@@cgaviator Should be okay then 980 was a good card, but let down by lack of ram when TR and the first watch dogs came out If i remember right the ti had 6gb of ram so didn't have a shortage

@@cgaviator I'm hoping to use space desk app on the pc and tablet on a few fire tablets as extra screens for msfs, so i have touch panels for some controls Thats if i can move parts of the screen arouund

Not in this sim. In DCS World which is a combat flight sim but that doesn’t have as good an F35 model.

Not in an F35 I hope! Would be a squeeze! 😂

Rubbish... Its a single seat aircraft

Yeah, the issue with the moving ones is that I can’t use playback reliably and I’ve found that sometimes moving ship assets stutter when you’re close to them. And I wanted the waypoint which also wouldn’t work if ship moved! 😅

@@cgaviator I found the F35 can track moving waypoints, I can cycle through each waypoint in the F35s pop up menu to switch between ships and as long as I have marked each ship as a waypoint in the main menu before my flight, I'll get my distance and a heading to both the moving ships location where ever they are although there always in roughly the same loction to start with.🙂

@@stuarthendry5397 ah yes, it does drop a waypoint but given enough time, the ship will have moved from it. I was after some fairly accurate ranging this time around. But if I'm just looking for somewhere approximate then the world map waypoints are ok

@@cgaviator the stuttering issue is actually a known bug on MSFS with WorldScripts and uncapped FPS. It has been reported to Asobo. As a temporary fix, cap your FPS to 40 or 45 and the stuttering will be gone.

@@miltechsimulations you legend! thanks for letting me know!

Lol, apparently messing it up on most occasions! 😂

also who would fly a plane with an ipad for a instrument display, sh17 the bed

@@blameusa7082 you sound almost as old school as me! 😅

Onto the ships?

I dunno, ever seen one up close? Very impressive

Lol… the Russians use conventional takeoff with ramp using massive power and I think a trap on return!

I’m sure there are other reasons. Maybe size of carrier? Risk appetite?

@@cgaviator Possibly length of the flight deck contributed to the problem with the Izumo Class? The figures are 1092' length overall for a Nimitz Class carrier vs. 932' length overall for the Elizabeth Class vs. 844' for the America Class LHA 814' for the Izumo Class. Overall length is not flight deck length but it gives us a yardstick to work with. So if a rolling landing would work on the Elizabeth Class it might work just as well on the Izumo. It definitely works on the Elizabeth as is shown here. I think the problem may be a version of "it wasn't made here!" where the Americans refuse to take a good idea that was originated by the Brits making the best use of a slightly smaller carrier. Maybe the USN could make rolling landings on the America Class and speed up aircraft recovery rate in so doing but just can not get past the bureaucratic inertia that they have built up. I do not know why the Japanese would fail to do so, though.

To do with cost and the battering the air frame takes.

@@johnnybravo9096 I wasn't seeing it for regular use, but to make sure the QE2s had the capacity in case of emergencies or to futureproof the design (should it become relevant down the track, Admittedly, they may well have the capacity to have them installed at a later date, I don't have the knowledge of either the class or ship designing in general to know how feasible that is in the long run.

@@malusignatius I believe they were supposed to be designed to accommodate catapults and arrestor wires, but some of the mid build political flip flopping seemed to indicate it would be an expensive refit. Of course they probably also wasted a significant amount of what it would cost to do that by doing stupid things like slowing down construction to not spend as much in a year, as if it matters which years budget pays when presumably the country and its tax base will still exist next year.

@@KarlJeager Ahh right, that would make sense.

@@KarlJeager Harriers never had arresting hooks AFAIK, so why would the F-35B have it? The version that has arresting hooks is the F-35C, and that's meant for US supercarriers that do have the appropriate arresting gear.

Thank you 🙏🏻

I think the team works: 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

All true. The HUD presentation does move a fair bit to simulate HMD but it’s only what’s possible, and there is an off boresight HMD option but it’s very basic.

MSFS

Yup, but sadly they can’t use trap as they would need a large source of steam. Apparently the electric cat isn’t nearly as reliable

Yes, but the quoted price for doing it... is about the same as the purchase price of a new carrier.

Don't know why they wouldn't fit traps, it works without steam ,that's for cat launch. They would have the option to receive f35c in emergencys either store or helo them off. I suppose they must have a "catch net" if one can't hover and comes in "hot".

@@charliedecker7702 we almost changed to F35C but the politicians changed there mind as it would could cost £2billion more and delay everything by 5 years. I don’t think there’s a barrier either.

Yeah I would love it if Dino would add it for us on Xbox

It is a good one. I’m having a faff with flightsim .to but it’s on there. Demo livery or something like that. If I can on the PC tonight I’ll try and add the link 👍🏻

I have just pasted it into the description!

Me too, that would be excellent!

I guess theoretically it should always be possible. Just takes some necessity to actually try it!

Not quite. It is due to the extra lift gained from the wings with a bit of forward flight. The air moving down piece is more to do with helicopters and VRS and only a factor if you’re moving down into the descending air too quickly. Moving forwards in a helicopter provides the same extra lift due to forward flight (transitional lift). My knowledge of helos is limited, but back to the original piece, the SRVL is to gain lift from the wings. Hope that made sense! 😅

The difference between this and a helicopter is the volume of air moved. A helicopter works to move a large volume of air relatively slowly (not that helicopter downwash is slow, but it is nothing on the lift fan wash), while the F35 moves much less air much more quickly. Translational lift and VRS are still technically a thing for it, but the relevant speeds are something like 10x higher. The lift fan is only in 'forward flight' when it gets to around 150mph, and the wings start to contribute well before that.