The reform, which eventually led the Franken Lightning for two years and five months to complete and cost $ 11.7 million, $ 2.8 million in the expected budget.
The F-35a AF-2111, 17-5269, is a fb-35A combination of parts of the Flass Pilot Pilot: AF-27, which suffered a fire in the engine in 2014, and AF-211, is based after the failure of the nose to land in 2020. “Franken-Panther”, or “Franken-Bird”.
Instead of canceling the F-35S, a decision was made to plant the non-damaged fuselage from AF-27 on the relatively sound AFT section of AF-211: the first date of the F-35 program.
The reform voltage, which was launched in late 2022 by JPO in partnership with Lockheed Martin and the 388 combat wing maintenance group, took more than two years and $ 11.7 million to complete it. This number came with $ 2.8 million under the budget, and the total cost savings were compared to the purchase of a new F-35A, a new $ 63 million.
When we got a glimpse of the hybrid plane’s structure in January, thanks to our shareholders Victoria Fontana It was taken in NAS JRB Fort Wort, the plane was still subject to final checks. From the beginning, there was a feeling of cautious optimism: F-35A of its kind, carrying scars and stories of previous two planes, was rebuilt to one platform ready to fight.
“The scope of this project and its complexity was an ideal guide for overcoming barriers and achieving a larger set of the capacity of the main aircraft for an advanced tactical fighter,” said Thomas Barber, the engineer of the main aircraft repair team at the F-35 JPO MAJER MISHAP.
As we noticed in our previous coverage, the effects of such complex reconstruction exceeds these aircraft. It sets the basis for future high -end restorations that can extend the fleet life and improve the use of all the brackets, bow, and package.
On January 24, 2025, the planes moved to the sky on the first flight after their journey after creativity, and the departure of the Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on its way to the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth. According to F-35a Lead Jeffrey Jensen, the lightning that was rebuilt “was performed as if it were new from the initial production line”-is a remarkable support for both the reform process and the team behind it.
Less than two months later, on March 26, 2025, AF-211 completed her return to full service, returning to Hill AFB under the fourth group of Generation Fighter.
The US Air Force has just released some interesting photos of the plane during routine activities on the Hill AFB road. Miscellaneous, one of the pictures shows interesting details: the nose-gear door in the F-35a Lightning II, a dedicated STENCICILING reads:
“Frankstein”
Mas “
The word “Frankenstein” is a direct indication of the unique hybrid origin of the type Jet, while the name “Spock” Gossner is likely to be the commander of the crew for the plane.
