F-35 dual side air data port cover
US20250361026A1
Abstract
A cover for the data ports disposed on opposite sides of a F-35 aircraft. The cover is macroscopically planar when not in use but flexible to conform to the curves on the sides of the F-35 airframe when the cover is attached. The cover is magnetically attached to three sides of a frame circumscribing air data port, but not attached on the forward side of the frame. This geometry provides for a covers which are symmetric and therefore usable with air data ports on both sides of the F-35 aircraft. The air data port cover does not have mechanical attachments or parts separable in use.
Description (excerpt)
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/176,758 filed Mar. 1, 2023, incorporated herein by reference in its entry. STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described and claimed herein may be manufactured, licensed and used by and for the Government of the United States of America for all government purposes without the payment of any royalty. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to an air data port cover for a F-35 air frame and more particularly to a matched pair of identical air data port covers which can be interchangeably used on both sides of the F-35 aircraft. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The Lockheed Martin F-35 is a single seat stealth-capable aircraft capable of carrying an ordinance payload greater than 8100 kg at supersonic speeds. The F-35 is said to be the most advanced aircraft in the world and expected to replace a host of other fighter aircraft, both domestically and internationally. Production of the F-35 airframe began Nov. 10, 2003 with the first flight completed Dec. 15, 2006. The F-35 airframe is executed in three platforms: the F-35A Lightening II designed for conventional runways and the most common platform; the F-35B Lightening II with vertical landing and short-field takeoff capability and the F-35C Lightening II built for aircraft carrier operations. Nine countries were involved with the development of the F-35 airframe. More than 1500 companies and 250000 jobs are involved in the supply chain and production of the F-35 airframe. Despite all of these advanced capabilities, numerous development partners, years of production and thousands of hours of flight time, problems remain. Particularly the twin symmetrically opposed air data flush ports need to be covered and protected while the F-35 on ground. The air data ports are forward of and below the canopy, adjacent the nose cone. The air data ports are curved in two planes-converging towards the nose and arcuate around the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. Each air data port receives dynamic, real time information during flight which is used for navigation and control. The air data ports are oval shaped, having a major axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the F-35 aircraft. Circumscribing the oval shaped air data port is an irregular five sided flush port panel, as shown below. The front edge of the flush port panel is a short generally vertical side. The aft edge of the flush port panel is pointed. The top and bottom of the flush port panel are mutually parallel with the bottom being more than twice the length of the top. Circumscribing and substantially congruent with the flush port panel is a metallic frame. Outside of the metallic frame is a delicate low observable coating. Complicating the geometry are the intake holes in the data port. The seven intake holes of the air data port are closely spaced and offset from the center of the flush port panel, in the aft direction, requiring this offset to be accounted for on both sides of the F-35 aircraft. If dirt, water, animals and other debris intrude into the data port when the F-35 is grounded, damage to delicate instrumentation or erroneous readings during combat flights may result. To protect the air data ports, each air data port has a cover which is attached when the F-35 is on the ground. The challenge is exacerbated by the skin of the F-35 airframe. A major portion of the aircraft has a delicate, non-magnetic low observable coating. The flush port panel Is nonmagnetic beryllium. Other portions of the skin are magnetic, as are hardware behind the aft edge of this flush port panel. Furthermore, the air data port cover assembly comprises multiple parts made of various materials. For example, the current data port covers according to the prior art are temporarily attached to the surface of the aircraft by a complex multi-part assembly having a bridge spanning two metal pins and having at least 10 separate parts. If any part is lost, the multi-part assembly may be unusable. If the part is lost near a runway several manhours of foreign object detection and walking the runway is necessary. Even if all goes well none of the parts is lost, the pins must be inserted into a pair of complementary holes in the skin of the aircraft. A platen is screwed down from the bridge to hold yet a separate port cover shield in place. But these pins are easily bent in use, scratching of the delicate low observable skin coating by the metal pins occurs and parts become separated and lost. Furthermore, an O-ring is also needed to seal the prior art cover to the port, but is prone to simply becoming dislodged and
Filing details
- Inventors
- Christopher O'Donnell
- Assignee
- Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air …
- Filed
- Aug 6, 2025
- Granted
- Application pending
Bibliographic data and excerpted text sourced from Google Patents (public record) as part of IP TechMatch's current-filings monitor. This filing is not part of the 2019 historical archive. For the authoritative full text, drawings, and legal status, see the source links above or consult USPTO records directly.