Clean Wing Flutter Tests Completed

Photo by Matthew Short

Clean wing flutter testing for the F-35A Lightning II was completed at Edwards AFB, California, in early February 2013. Flutter testing was conducted to ensure the jet’s structure could withstand various aerodynamic loads verifying the F-35A’s design. The mission, flown by Maj. Ryan Reinhardt, marked the conclusion of three years of testing that now allows the F-35A to proceed with tests continuing to expand its flight envelope and validate predictions in real world scenarios. The testing demonstrated the F-35 is clear of flutter at speeds up to 1.6 Mach and 700 knots with weapon bay doors open or closed. Data collected proves the F-35A flight dynamics maintains a large margin between its designed airspeed and airspeeds where possible flutter could occur.