An F-35B Joint Strike Fighter from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., on Thursday, February 21, 2013 launching the squadron's first orientation flight. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Waterstreet / Released)
The Department of Defense grounded the entire F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fleet on Friday after a cracked engine blade was found in an F-35A at Edwards Air Force Base. The base is near Palmdale and about 3.5 hours northwest of Palm Springs. All variants of the F-35, including the Marine Corps’ F-35B Lighting II, are affected.
The move comes one day after Marine Corps Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) held its first operational flight for the F-35B at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. MCAS Yuma is about three hours southeast of Palm Springs.
In a Marine Corps press release published yesterday, VMFA-121 commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Scott said Thursday’s flight was a milestone. “This flight was another important and successful milestone in the F-35 program and for the Green Knights of VMFA-121 as we continue to build capability in the squadron and in the Marine Corps,” Scott said.
Scott’s unit became the first operational F-35 squadron when it received its first F-35 aircraft in November and was redesignated; it was previously an F/A-18 Hornet squadron. By late 2013, VMFA-121 is scheduled to have 16 of the F-35B Lightning II strike fighters.
With today’s decision from the Pentagon, VMFA-121′s aircraft are grounded until further notice.
Below is the DoD statement issued this afternoon:
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 103-13
February 22, 2013
F-35 Cautionary Suspension of Flight Operations: F135 Engine Crack
A routine engine inspection revealed a crack on an engine blade of the F135 engine installed in F-35A aircraft AF-2 operating at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Engineering teams are shipping the engine’s turbine module and its associated hardware to Pratt & Whitney’s Engine Facility in Middletown, Conn., to conduct more thorough evaluation and root cause analysis.
As a precautionary measure, all F-35 flight operations have been suspended until the investigation is complete. It is too early to know the fleet-wide impact of the recent finding. The F-35 Joint Program Office is working closely with Pratt & Whitney and Lockheed Martin at all F-35 locations to ensure the integrity of the engine, and to return the fleet safely to flight as soon as possible.
