Saturday, July 12, 2014

Navy keeps F-35 grounded

The U.S. Navy on Friday maintained a grounding order for F-35B and F-35C variants, saying it was still not clear what caused an engine failure on an Air Force F-35 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., last month. "At this time, I do not have sufficient information to return the F-35B and F-35C fleet to flight," Vice Admiral David Dunaway, who heads the Navy's Air Systems Command, said in an update to a fleetwide grounding order issued by U.S. officials on July 3. A copy of the document was obtained by Reuters. Hopes had been high three F-35Bs would attend the Farnborough International Airshow, which begins next week. (Source: Reuters, 07/12/14, The Hill, 07/11/14)