F-35s grounded

Flight and ground operations for the Joint Strike Fighter were suspended after the secondary power system of F-35A AF-4, an Air Force variant test aircraft, failed on Aug. 2 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., during a ground maintenance engine run. The problem was in the F-35's integrated power package, an F-35-unique system that combines the functions of engine starter, emergency and auxiliary power unit, environmental control system and back-up generator. (Source: Aviation Week, 08/04/11) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the Joint Strike Fighter training center. Two production units have already been delivered to the base.