Why don't they fly with transponders on during training, precisely for this reason?
It was inop at the time: "The jet’s transponder, which usually helps locate the aircraft, was not working “for some reason that we haven’t yet determined,” said Jeremy Huggins, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston. “So that’s why we put out the public request for help.”
F-35 can’t be found after pilot ejected
41–50 of 693 posts
Re: F-35 can’t be found after pilot ejected
#42Interesting. The article doesn't say why the pilot ejected. If the jet were able to continue flying for hours in autopilot, maybe the pilot ejected a bit prematurely, no? Though it it continued flying I would expect it to be on ADS-B.
I'd think there's clear procedures for pilot of such a craft? If x occurs & can't be fixed by doing y or z, then eject. > Though it it continued flying I would expect it to be on ADS-B. This is a military aircraft. Depending on its mission, transponders may or may not be enabled. What did surprise me: if a 2-plane mission, why didn't the other jet follow the now-empty one? As a opposed to landing right after. Low on…
Re: F-35 can’t be found after pilot ejected
#43Re: F-35 can’t be found after pilot ejected
#44Interesting. The article doesn't say why the pilot ejected. If the jet were able to continue flying for hours in autopilot, maybe the pilot ejected a bit prematurely, no? Though it it continued flying I would expect it to be on ADS-B.
I'd think there's clear procedures for pilot of such a craft? If x occurs & can't be fixed by doing y or z, then eject. > Though it it continued flying I would expect it to be on ADS-B. This is a military aircraft. Depending on its mission, transponders may or may not be enabled. What did surprise me: if a 2-plane mission, why didn't the other jet follow the now-empty one? As a opposed to landing right after. Low on…
Indeed they do (or at least did)
Re: F-35 can’t be found after pilot ejected
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
Aren't those F-39s invisible anyway?
We are looking for an F-35...You were not supposed to disclose the existance of the F-39 ;-)
Re: F-35 can’t be found after pilot ejected
#46Re: F-35 can’t be found after pilot ejected
#47Re: F-35 can’t be found after pilot ejected
#48Re: F-35 can’t be found after pilot ejected
#49Have they said whether the transponder was active on the jet? They usually have the ADSB beacon live when flying near airports, but if it was turned off it would be a bit trickier to find. Also, if the retroreflector wasn't extended it might be hard for active radar to track it as well. Worst case scenario would be if it was in "full stealth" mode -- that would be the situation where we discover that NORAD air defens…
[1] https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/f-35-cant-be-found-aft...