The F-35 Lightning II | Behind the Wings on PBS

Check out more from Behind the Wings Season 5!
Drones & eVTOL • Drones & eVTOL | Behin...
The James Webb Space Telescope • The James Webb Space T...
The Artemis Program • The Artemis Program | ...
From its 5th generation design to its technological breakthroughs, the F-35 is a formidable machine. At Lockheed Martin's mile-long assembly line in Fort Worth Texas, F-35s are meticulously built. At the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, cadets learn how the F-35 fits into a modern combat environment. And at Miramar Naval Base in San Diego, CA, get an inside look at the training and daily life of the pilots who fly the F-35 operationally. It's time to go... Behind the Wings!
Full Credits on IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt29730796...
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum:
wingsmuseum.org
Behind the Wings Podcast: wingsmuseum.org/resources/pod...
Thumbnail: Courtesy Lockheed Martin
A film directed by Cray Novick.

[@Wings_Museum]

Join Colorado's First Lady Fighter Pilot, Tracy LaTourette, for an up-close look at one of the most advanced military aircraft in the world.

[@keirfarnum6811]

It’s so cool that we have women fighter pilots now; some who are now retired. Apparently women actually have better G tolerance than men do.

[@klausmuhlbach1869]

We should make the whole jet fighter force female.

[@jamesregiste960]

The f16 is a better all round fighter in most applications! 😊

[@D3cepti0ns]

The most fun and transcendent flying machine is the F-16. If I wanted to feel like I could actually fly and move however I want, the F-16 does that. Another youtuber who flied both the F-15 and F-16 loves the F-16 much more. The bubble canopy and relaxed position and the responsive fly-by-wire side stick makes you forget the the rest of the plane is there. Now if I had to fly into a warzone on a mission, I'd want the F-35, with all the support.

[@ohbassoon]

@@keirfarnum6811 true but a little misleading. It's due to the average size and height of a women is smaller than a man so blood doesn't have to be pumped as far under stress hence having an average higher g-load. If a man was the same height and the same body size, it would be the same.

[@vmpgsc]

It's amazing how organic the F-35s internal framework looks - hardly any straight lines. Honestly looks like they're assembling armored dragons...

[@Wings_Museum]

The F-35's edges, reduced engine signature, internal carriage of weapons, fuel and sensors all contribute to its stealth capabilities

[@markmeripa]

The shape of the bottom body panels is among my favourite design on the whole jet. It reminds me of how the top of an F1 car looks like but upside down

[@drksideofthewal]

In a very real sense, modern fighters are faster and more powerful than the flying lizards medieval people imagined

[@CausticLemons7]

When I learned that a stealth feature is having all of the angles at the same degree these aircraft became so much cooler! You can see everything from the large wings down to small panels that are angled in the same way to achieve certain capabilities. Great engineering is beautiful art!

[@uss_liberty_incident]

@@markmeripa Reminds me of a tomboy with exposed abs

[@newman977]

She's a natural host. Great episode.

[@christophersnyder1532]

Ever since Battle of the X-Planes with the then, X-32, and X-35, on PBS I was hooked, and have two magazines dedicated towards the F-35, Lightning II. Even though Parliament in my country, Canada, reneged on the JSF, I can still appreciate this beast from afar. I hope everyone also have a great holiday, this upcoming winter. Take care, and all the best.

[@dianapennepacker6854]

Yeah I remember rooting for the 35. I mean I was young, and the X-32 was so hideous so even if it were better I would have hated it hah. Shit I'm old enough to where I remember rooting for the Raptor due to the name. I thought it looked better too back then, but now I prefer the YF-23. I'm actually sick of the Raptors looks, and how generic it is now.

[@lanceh543]

I thought that show was a fever dream. I'm glad someone else has watched it

[@WhiskyCanuck]

Canada ordered 88 of them and will start taking deliveries in 2026

[@Enkarashaddam]

Trudeau gave LM the contract after a close tie with the Gripen

[@jb76489]

@@Enkarashaddamlmao the F35 ain’t ever tied with the gripes, it wins every time

[@bugtesties]

I know the technology is crazy advanced but when you hear the WWII numbers they were popping out planes tanks and ships in like minutes and hours. Love seeing the f-35 getting some love it’s so badass wish we had more f-22s though

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

In WW2, the entire national economy was subordinate to the military. Commodities of daily life were rationed in order to make that possible. There's no call for that today, nor should there be.

[@ReedEzra]

Hands down the very best presentation of this remarkable warbird. Props to the entire production crew and a big salute to Jackieo for her service in the Viper and for this wonderful report.

[@bobbelleci9995]

That was presented very nicely. Thanks Tracy. Well done. 🎉

[@ismailnyeyusof3520]

This lady would make the best grandma ever, the stories she can tell, they would be epic. Hope she knows how to bake great pies and cookies too!

[@ronaldbell3788]

The Wright Brothers would be completely amazed at the great advances made in aviation since their humble flight at Kitty Hawk.

[@louwvandermerwe178]

Refreshing to have a new series!

[@robstewart5995]

Excellent hosting and production. I visited your museum summer of 2023

[@MrFantastic23]

Did I just find my new favorite channel!? Shockingly surprised that the YT algorithm Gods got it right!

[@c1ph3rpunk]

I’ll admit, I was a vocal critic of the F-35 but as I see how it’s employed, even I gotta admit, I’m a fan. Imagine a pair of F-35’s backed by a couple dozen F-15EX’s with a few sticks of F-16’s running cover and a group of EA-18G Growlers paving the way. That’s a badass formation. Now do that X 10… Multiple times.

[@RocketPropelledGuy]

I know it sounds dumb but the Growlers will be unnecessary. The F-35C's AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare system is far superior in that regard too.

[@Its-Just-Zip]

​​@@RocketPropelledGuyin some cases this is true, but if I remember correctly from what limited knowledge of the growler I have, the growler has a better top speed meaning that you can get out of places easier, which is important because you light yourself up like a Christmas tree when you start jamming people. So while the f-35s electronic warfare suite is very good in some situations, it can defeat its own stealth That speed difference is Mach 1.8 for the growler and Mach 1.6 for the f35. Those are the Wikipedia specifications so it's entirely possible that both aircraft could hit higher speeds under emergency situations, but there's no way that we are going to be told that without having a security clearance

[@hilairelaplume1616]

survivability is better than any other aircraft a lot of people don't know this but it has a buoy that mimics the whatever missile or aircraft is locked onto the f-35 signature and then the tow behind Bowie mimics the signature of the f-35 at the exact moment the missile or aircraft locked on to it which means the missiles incoming have no reason to believe the tow behind is not the f-35 pretty cool technology. It also jams better than any other plane in the market by far.

[@RocketPropelledGuy]

@@Its-Just-Zip Here's the thing. The "top speed" of almost any fighter is going to be from what it is completely clean, no weapons and often even without things we consider essential for doing the work in the modern era like targeting pods. The F-35 has it all internal, it does not have the extra drag of these things and the "top speed" is with the weight of all those in there with a full internal weapons bay. Even going mach 1 is a very rare event in a combat sortie, and not a single coalition aircraft ever even went mach 1 in a combat mission throughout the entire Gulf War. Vietnam demonstrated extremely high top speed like that was just not the useful thing USAF SAC claimed it was going to be. Having excellent thrust though, is a different matter. The Hornet, both the Legacy, Super Hornet, and Growler all suffer from lackluster thrust. An F/A-18F pilot (who also was a Fighter Weapons School graduate) having switched to the F-35 likened flying the F-35C to flying a hornet with 4 engines. It's like the fantastic thrust and 2-circle authority of an F-16 (which the F-35 also outperforms in almost everything including a rate fight if the F-16 is carrying any weapons at all) with the very high AoA authority of the Hornet. It has a better range than both, carries more fuel than both internally, has a far better safety record, has the automatic ground collision avoidance that the hornet doesn't (Most of the F-16's in US inventory do now though) and can carry more weapons than either in a permissive air defense environment. But because EW is now so important I don't know what to tell you about whether or not jamming is as compromising as you say. I really doubt we will get honest information about that from anyone that actually knows, understandably. And all of that is without getting into much more complex stuff like Sensor Fusion and the very, very impressive MADL Data-Link, those are giant leaps in capability that change everything and the character limit of a KZbin comment isn't enough to explain how.

[@SloaneLasers]

@@Its-Just-Zip Just remember that Mach 1.6 top speed is with a full load of weapons.

[@mantis_monk]

So awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@creepycraiyons3519]

People take the sound barrier for granted these days. It’s literally amazing that out aircraft can do this like it’s Monday morning.

[@Hijablife303]

Wow this is amazing

[@jesusbarrientos1999]

Saw it today on PBS

[@isaacbrown4506]

I'm super excited for the 6th Gen, i was too young for the Raptor, and wasn't really into fighter jets when the F-35 started rolling out but It'll be perfect when the NGAD and F/A-XX roll out and I can't wait for the SR-72

[@iecompat388]

jabardast. ekdum jhakas!

[@EagleFighterJet]

Great job

[@alexanderlovato4902]

How cooool is that!!

[@knowpassword]

“Silk Ride.” Never heard that expression before.. 🤔👍

[@alonzochubb7061]

Love her emotions

[@afryhover]

Great job, well done 👍👍

[@RivenGreivances]

Siren!?! Nice call sign!!!!

[@andrewlee6886]

Great video

[@garysilver718]

I live just down the road from Willow Run where the B-24 was built back in the day on an assembly line by Henry Ford . If I remember correctly one came off every 57 minutes.

[@northernirishman1140]

Amazing plane with amazing girl's flying it.... Inspiring

[@petertuckergoettler5720]

"Cool!," merci.

[@EvLSpectre]

Been out for a few years now, and it was cool to support the 33rd with the muns requirements thry had. Didn't miss the B models hovering over us though. Those boys made some low ass passes over our dump.

[@HarperBrown-mr9bc]

Wow, amazing🤣🤩

[@kromagnong]

This is a beautiful warning to the Allied world's enemy that do not mess with America and its allied friends. Awesome video and presentation. God Bless USA

[@Apple-om5mr]

Oo rah 🇺🇸

[@johndyson4109]

18 months to complete one! WOW..

[@ramal5708]

F-35 program is what the TFX program should have been back in 1960s

[@rogerrolex6981]

Wow faster than the speed of sound 😮

[@Matt-qu5rt]

Can't wait too see what a 6gen jet will look like. The b 21 raider just looks like something out of a sci-fi movie butt that's the new bomber...

[@AA-xo9uw]

Both VMFA-314 and VMFA-311 operate the F-35C. Also, the F-35A is equipped with a tail hook as well to make arrested landings ashore if necessary but does not operate from a carrier.

[@Apple-om5mr]

A lot of planes do, f15 and f16 have em as well (along with others I just forgot)

[@creepycraiyons3519]

Had an f-35 pilot say it’s like flying a cheat code.

[@NoirMonte74]

So impressive and proud

[@user-so5ec9ks3x]

แก้วอุดอน❤

[@Trev0r98]

i was gonna say something, but i'm tired of looking over my back. Ooh! A paradox!

[@katpellot5898]

Can't see it, but can definitely hear it 🤣

[@viasevenvai]

The people who complained about the development cost failed to mention that it’s 3 jets under the F-35 name. The carrier ready, non harrier, jet is probably reinforced in many ways compared to the ‘A’ model. I cant think of a more varied jet. The F-18 has many classifications for fighter, bomber and recon but it’s not altering the frame for different clutches/motor adaptations/gear/landing capabilities. So, with the modular framework employed I’d suggest this design get it’s own generation rank. If we can build one jet to serve 3 designs I can’t think of a newer idea.

[@BwInNewJersey]

Was is in the Navy for 8 years including a Gator Navy tour. I still haven’t figured out why Marines are on Carriers.

[@anonviewerciv]

I still can't get over Raytheon being called RTX (on) now. 6:24 Texas production facility. 🏭🧑‍🏭✈ 16:40 Flight equipment. 🤿

[@Enkarashaddam]

How ironic since I watched battle of the x-planes like over 15 years ago on PBS

[@SpatialAdmirer273]

God bless america!

[@SHINR__]

I hope this covers more than the basic Information everyone knows. I'm expecting a lot.

[@tracylatourrette6856]

You bet-but remember, we did have to keep it ‘unclassified’. If it doesn’t answer your questions, give me a shout and I’ll do what I can to hook you up with the answer or direct you to someone who can. Enjoy the show. Fight’sON!™️

[@Jon-cw8bb]

​@@tracylatourrette6856you are amazing as a host

[@ronjon7942]

@@Jon-cw8bb2nd that. Nice work.

[@PeekabooGram]

​@@tracylatourrette6856It was a massive let down that Tracy didn't get to fly the F35 during the film. Has it happened since filming?

[@ScorpoSangs-ud2os]

It's a warrior angel,,,,, King David 45

[@ggusta1]

@7:35 you can practically hear a pin drop.... Hammering and general low roar in background throughout interview.... 😂😂😂😂

[@zachcaraballo4812]

It is incredibly quiet inside for an assembly line!

[@Ridingthewaves305]

Fat Amy is an interesting aircraft

[@AwtaMadik]

I want to see behind the "Tic Tac"

[@michelestone3194]

Looks like a trophy truck without the body work

[@MrBostonrobb]

Think about the air dominance capabilities of the US with what they overwhelmingly bring to the fight.

[@MrShaneSunshine]

So....is the f35 the most advanced fighter? I may have missed hearing it ! 😂 The ladies are very impressive.

[@jimmybillyjr]

Am I the only one to notice Paul Moga from Great Planes?!

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

How come i just watched one of these.. about the f 111.. that went mach 2.1.

[@CausticLemons7]

I wish you could go flying! Either a two-seater F-35 or maybe a training version that has remote control backup, so a trained operator on the ground can take over in case of emergency.

[@Yusuf-Mohammed]

I've heard that pilots train on VR mostly so its possible to try the F-35

[@bubpori5105]

18 Months 4k Workers Maybe 165 k person hrs to build 1. Prestigious Platform top line Performer , Stealth, Interconnectivity , Jump jet Variant , Force Multiplier What a Fighter !.

[@Showloveclothing]

Show us the ufos 🛸

[@thomaskeenan2208]

Aces High. Usually see F15s but roaring above. Awesomeness above. Keep on deterring.

[@jamesbohlman4297]

The 35 operates outside the capability of the E-2 Hawkeye?

[@T-Dawg123a]

The F35 is like a mini AWACs in terms of detecting targets but a full-size AWACs plane has more people which lets it act like a flying Air traffic control tower coordinating a whole formation much better than a single pilot could. Additionally the E-2 can loiter for way longer than any fighter jet providing faster communication than a ground tower and continuously coordinating the battle as F-35s go to refuel and rearm. The E-2C is also being actively replaced by the E-2D which has a new AESA radar which presumably exceeds the capabilities of the F-35s radar, or at least we guess it does all that info is classified. The D models can also have aerial refueling capability allowing it to stay in the air even longer. Of course the E-2 isn't stealthy so entering contested air space isn't safe but it has such a large range that it shouldn't need to.

[@jamesbohlman4297]

@@T-Dawg123a so, if the 35s networking capabilities are "real time" with the E-2D, than the 35 can leverage information exclusive to the Hawkeye in it's narrow mission set; and that is saying something if there are several of them up there together working an opponent in a buttoned-up configuration. Then, the only other consideration is whether the super-carrier where the E-2 calls home can dodge submarines in perpetuity while the airwing works it's magic at a distance with in-flight refueling.

[@T-Dawg123a]

@@jamesbohlman4297 yeah submarines are a threat but carriers can have a attack submarine in their strike group as well as the other ships and the reserve airwing being capable of deploying ASW sensors and weapons additionally land base aircraft like the P-8 have long loiter times and specialize in anti sub warfare.

[@jamesbohlman4297]

@@T-Dawg123a my understanding is that the Kilo class is a hopeless dinosaur in the presence of a Los Angeles class.

[@Apple-om5mr]

⁠​⁠@@jamesbohlman4297eh idk about hopeless dinosaur (unlike their air force Russias subs actually can pose a threat) but they certainly outclassed by the LA class

[@sandman2675]

Women out in front is so awesome, love this video.

[@rays14ful]

Is this plane meant for combat or video game playing?

[@Apple-om5mr]

Why not both lol, got a big ass screen in it

[@theodorepatton887]

☺️

[@puffin51]

June, 2024. All-missions availability rate 34%. Requires humidity-controlled, airconditioned, dust-free maintenance facilities, so can only be operated from highly developed major air bases. Combat radius, straight-line, no afterburner 850 nm. Can carry one air-to-ground guided weapon or two dumb bombs, plus two AM-RAAM air-to-air missiles, unless it discards stealth. Ground time to air time ratio 20:1. Component (spare parts) supply in permanent gridlock, due to pork-barreling. Cost, so far, at least 430 billion USD, the most expensive weapon program in history. If you're a pilot, of course you love it. If you're a crew chief, a supply officer, or a taxpayer, not so much.

[@InfiniteEverythings]

I want to lnow the story behind his callsign "Snooki."

[@ivanreyvisitacion9051]

ready everyday for awar and battle the mairne navy destryo to phil butuancity obrero ang target lea balew inday again low mkers

[@touchofgrey5372]

Awesome bird; now, give it a couple of years and we'll see the Chinese version of it in 'their sky'!

[@Apple-om5mr]

Wonder if it will be made of plastic again?

[@frankcherry3810]

I wish China and Russia would put out videos like this

[@bash343]

At least you have freedom of movement.

[@TinLeadHammer]

A corporate ad about "the most advanced" F-35 funded by Raytheon? But of course.

[@Grass1981]

Is it EMP proof ?

[@Orbital_Inclination]

Nothing is EMP proof. It is EMP resistant like any other military hardware with shielding though

[@n3v3rforgott3n9]

People who say this have no fucking clue how EMP or computers work.

[@jb76489]

Stop playing call of duty please

[@jaderozales72]

It is sexy, deadly and by god is America 👍🇺🇸

[@keirfarnum6811]

America is sexiest when she’s wearing high heels. 👠😁

[@tannertaulbee1151]

F-22 has entered the chat….

[@guitar7279]

I know you guys are turbo american but you REALLY cant call the F35 the only 5th gen in production (J-20 exists)

[@juicyboo7409]

Psyop paper planes don’t count

[@Sailman1]

Mach 1.6 is fast for sure, But not as fast as F-22 or older F-15 which do Mach 2.5.

[@Wings_Museum]

While filming for this episode, many pilots spoke about how raw speed isn't as important as it used to be, and that as the air battlefield evolves, Mach 1.6 is fast enough for many mission profiles.

[@user-gn7mi2jv2r]

Can't wait to see our Canadian Air force personnel finally get this beautiful 5th generation fighter to showcase their talents!

[@ronjon7942]

Raw speed wasn’t even that important as far back as the Vietnam War. I read a report that indicated that no jet, not one, ever went supersonic on an operational sortie. To me, that sounds extreme, but even if there were exceptions, it goes to show that going Mach 2.5 doesn’t mean much in the real world of combat flying. Most jets on full afterburner will run out of gas in 10-15 minutes. Going fast burns gas faster.

[@EricK-mj7kr]

Air combat scenario has evolved to BVR. No more vietnam war era close gunslinger fights. Going mach speed burns fuel fast & reduce effective combat range.

[@cjmanson5692]

@@ronjon7942 The F-4E Phantom II that managed to do the world's only supersonic gun kill: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@TheRealCFF]

Flowery language aside there is absolutely no content in this video worth differentiating from other pieces on the F-35

[@montanarachels7790]

Because the rest is secret (shhhhhhhhhh😄🤫)

[@KlingbergWingMkII]

Never use "utilized" when you can use "use"

[@keirfarnum6811]

I have utilized “use” often; but my usage varies. 😆

[@TinLeadHammer]

Unless you've already used "use" in the same or in the prior sentence.

[@SloaneLasers]

Already 17 years old? Makes you wonder what they are really flying now.

[@Msit508]

VFA

[@MrBostonrobb]

I don't understand why the variants of the F-35 don't have enough internal space to carry more ordinance. 4's not enough.

[@Apple-om5mr]

They expanding it to 6, though yea it’s gonna carry less ordinance, that’s the price you pay for being undetected

[@tadferd4340]

​@@Apple-om5mrIt's why I hate the F35-B. Not having to implement a STVOL system would free up more volume for weapon bays.

[@Apple-om5mr]

@@tadferd4340 Thats what the A and C are for, STOVL is a capability that the marines need for their doctrine and way of fighting, so they were willing to compromise

[@bocadelcieloplaya3852]

Loyal Wingman drones for additional ordnance carrying. Also other non-stealth planes hanging back to act as bomb trucks.

[@sandseasentinel8785]

It only needs stealth using the smaller bays for SEAD missions and early strikes. Once air dominance is established, they can carry a lot more on external mounts when stealth isn't the primary mission.

[@brettdavid2082]

At approx 11min, why did they salute a civilian test pilot whos emoloyed by Lockheed martin?

[@196cupcake]

"The most advanced* ..." * ... That can be publicly acknowledge at this time.

[@ArifChaudry67]

Police squad

[@KlingbergWingMkII]

Giant ad for Lockheed.

[@RedFail1-1]

Siren may sound like a cool name, but I guarantee there is an embarrassing meaning behind it.

[@OneandonlyShawn]

Call sign siren. It’s funny because a siren is a demon woman soul eater of men.

[@VerlitaSaprudin]

Kepentingan nasional. Daerah kab Indramayu. Perjalanan mobil dan motor. Aman dan tentram.

[@Kimmurial333]

Isnt the F22 the "most advanced of them all". Confusing.

[@sandseasentinel8785]

F-35 is newer and has more advanced electronics than the F-22. F-22 will dominate in a dogfight, but the F-35 is the more advanced aircraft, and the F-35 aims to win before dogfighting is necessary.

[@itch4travel]

It is reported that the F35 jet turbine will stall during high G manuever (9G). True or False?

[@juicyboo7409]

WOOZLE DETECTED

[@frankcherry3810]

Silk-Ride! Haha, No… we dont want to take that ride Unless, its jumping out the back of a cargo plane.

[@itch4travel]

F35, jack of all trades, master of none.

[@Apple-om5mr]

Master of getting shit done and living to tell the tale

[@jb76489]

Things you say when you don’t know what you’re talking about

[@itch4travel]

"This jet fighter is a disaster, but Congress keeps buying it." PTP.. CTTO.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJKZZIKMoZaAftk

[@itch4travel]

@@jb76489 "Is The F-35 Worth $115 Million?" PTP... CTTO... kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHXYm3meq8yIsKs

[@VerlitaSaprudin]

F 35 Lockheed Martin. USA. Pabrik pesawat jet tempur. Kesatuan negara RI.

[@Shepherd999]

😂

[@CausticLemons7]

RIP to all the Black Knights lost while fighting the alien invasion in July 1996.

[@keirfarnum6811]

“Kick the fires and light the tires!” 😂

[@colinm6714]

Cool plane but for some reason the Raptor is a thousand times sexier. F-35 looks like a chonky raptor.

[@keirfarnum6811]

“Fat Amy” is the nickname for a reason.

[@Clone-tt6lg]

Nothing but a defense contractors ATM.Despite additional billions spent on a "finished product" it still does not meet original performance goals.

[@SloaneLasers]

Yeah, but it still keeps your grandkids from speaking Russian.

[@Clone-tt6lg]

@@SloaneLasers let's see.Billions still being spent on modifications to correct manufacturing errors.Air force has refused delivery many times due to manufacturing errors.Historically highest number of hours maintenance per hour of flying.Still not certified for combat by airforce.Enlighten me and point out how the American version f35 keeps my children from speaking Russian and it hasn't seen combat yet?

[@TinLeadHammer]

​@@SloaneLasersI suppose Spanish, Mandarin and Tagalog are less frightening.

[@SloaneLasers]

@@TinLeadHammerYes, I'm much less afraid of the United States being invaded by the Philippines.

[@TinLeadHammer]

@@SloaneLasers Because the US annexed the Philippines some 120 years ago rather than acknowledging the Philippines' declaration of independence, and as the result of the war at least 200,000 Filipino civilians died? Sure. That will teach them.

[@BenBBauer]

They always interview the factory suits. Never the people building the product. Like I wanna hear what bob who builds the left wing has to say not what the boardroom bimbo who couldn’t use a wrench thinks

[@keirfarnum6811]

9:07 Except when they actually do interview a guy working on it. 😂

[@closebits]

If you don’t jiggle your arms you are not legit. I’m sort some director suggested this.