It’s not certain if the pilot is from the RAF or the Royal Navy, but Royal Navy pilots are thought to have been the first to land F-35s on HMS Queen Elizabeth.
As reported by Daily Star, a leaked video clip recently surfaced apparently featuring the pilot of a UK F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter falling flat on his face, shortly after landing on new Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
As previously reported, the long-awaited arrival of the stealth fighters happened on Oct. 14, 2019 during the aircraft carrier’s deployment for Westlant 19 – a three-month exercise off the coast of the US and Canada, featuring the UK Carrier Strike Group and US allies.
The leaked video shows the pilot shaking hands with a line of well-wishers after landing the F-35B on HMS Queen Elizabeth, before he turns to walk away – and appears to trip, stumble and faceplant.
The footage was shared on Twitter by Save the Royal Navy, an independent online campaign to promote the Royal Navy and fight its decline, that commented: “Triumphant F-35 pilot arrival on HMS Queen Elizabeth – the deleted scenes.”
It’s not certain if the pilot is from the RAF or the Royal Navy, but Royal Navy pilots are thought to have been the first to land F-35s on HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The tweet has prompted a string of comments, with some criticising Save the Royal Navy for sharing the video, and others expressing concern the video – which some suggest comes from HMS Queen Elizabeth ‘s own CCTV cameras – has been leaked.
However, most found the footage hilarious – but expressed concern for the pilot’s hi-tech helmet, which are believed to cost around £250,000 each.
The F-35 Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System’s next generation interface provides pilots with intuitive access to vast quantities of flight, tactical, and sensor information for advanced situational awareness, precision and safety.
According to Rockwell Collins, the F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) is the world’s most advanced binocular HMDS for the world’s most advanced tactical aircraft. Its integrated head-up display is the first to provide pilots with all the critical information they need on the helmet’s visor, ensuring that every mission, day or night, has unsurpassed situational awareness, tactical capability and safety.
The next-generation user interface serves as the pilot’s primary display system, and virtual capabilities enable them to see through the bottom of the fuselage or directly at a target. With an uninterrupted display of flight information and sensor data, the pilot experiences extreme spatial orientation, superior weapons targeting, and tactical superiority–both day and night.
The head-up display (HUD), helmet-mounted display, and visor-projected night vision are fully integrated to provide pilots with unprecedented capability in the fighter cockpit. They can target their weapons and maintain advanced spatial orientation while continually monitoring critical flight information.
Photo credit: Crown Copyright
