Sneak Peek! Italian F-35A Lightning II
Bertella Models’ plans-built fighter jet
Serving as the backbone of allied airpower for 13 nations, the Lockheed Martin F-35 is a cutting-edge, fifth-generation fighter designed to bring enhanced situational awareness, digital data sharing and seamless connectivity to coalition forces, including Italy.
The FACO company in Cameri, Italy, is now assembling and constructing F-35 parts, including the wings and the company is also responsible for maintaining all the F-35s sold in Europe. The first F-35 assembled in Italy flew on September 24, 2015 and was assigned to the 32nd Wing Stormo (Armando Boetto) of the Italian Air Force.
THE MODEL
The newest addition to the Bertella Models line of all-wood jets designs, the F-35A Lightning II is 1/10-scale, has a 46.5 inch wingspan and is 60.5 inches long. The F-35 is constructed entirely of balsa and plywood, and Bertella notes that it is not difficult to build. The three 63 x 23.5-inch plans sheets include all the bulkheads and the ribs. The flying weight (including LiPo batteries) is 221.87oz. (13.87 pounds).
To provide easy access to all the internal components, the airplane is designed in two parts. The rear/lower part incorporates the wing section and aft fuselage complete with the motor, the fan unit, batteries, radio gear, and landing gear, and the upper/front section which includes the nose cone, cockpit/canopy section and upper deck. The two parts fit together easily and are screwed together.
The model shown here is covered entirely by 3/32-inch balsa.
THE FAN UNIT
This jet is powered by a TP 5860-970
Kv brushless motor (tppowerusa.com) that comes already mounted to a Bertella B&C 124E–10 fan unit. The fan unit is built entirely of lightweight high resistant aluminum alloy and is supplied completely assembled.
It is a pusher type, meaning the air flows first past the battery packs and the motor, then is accelerated by the impeller fan and finally out through the 9-blade stator. The 124mm 10-blade rotor is CNC machined from lightweight aluminum alloy. With a 12-cell Full Power Platinum 4200mAh 90 180C LiPo and a Hacker Master Spin 220 Pro Opto speed control, the power system produces 15.43 pounds of thrust.
The satisfaction you’ll feel showing up on the runway with a model jet you’ve built yourself is without doubt very
gratifying.
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