An F-35B Lightning jet is expected to take off from HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth Harbour this week.
The Ministry of Defence have confirmed that the aircraft will fly from the carrier soon, returning to RAF Marham. It is understood that the jet remained onboard, rather than flying home with other British aircraft, due to a technical fault.
One source told the UK Defence Journal that it is hoped that the aircraft will depart the carrier around the end of this week. It is also understood that the local council has taken in an interest and requested information relating to risk assessments associated with the take off.
Normally, fixed wing aircraft would not be onboard an aircraft carrier while the vessel is in its home port.
HMS Queen Elizabeth departed Portsmouth on August the 30th to conduct flight operations with six British F-35B Lightning fighter jets and a number of American aircraft off the United States coast.
The carrier returned home on the 4th of December.
It’s what we’re always asked about – will we ever see an F35 on the flight deck of @HMSQNLZ in #portsmouth? Well here’s your answer proudly sitting in the Home of the @RoyalNavy ?? Follow this OFFICIAL feed to find out its departure. Contrary to false rumours it won’t be today! pic.twitter.com/phDw7KwK4T
— HMNB Portsmouth (@HMNBPortsmouth) December 9, 2019
HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the Queen Elizabeth class of aircraft carriers, recently entered Portsmouth for the first time. The builders of the carriers said at the time that the ship’s arrival into Portsmouth represents the culmination of 16 years of work by the ACA – a unique relationship between BAE Systems, Babcock, Thales, and the UK Ministry of Defence.
More than 10,000 people across the UK have been involved in the programme to deliver the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, with six British shipbuilding yards across the country playing a vital role in the ships’ design and construction.
Lusty alerted us to this earlier.
A must see. If only we’d get some advanced notice of when!
Sure is a nice (albeit temporary) addition to Portsmouth’s skyline, particularly with two carriers alongside!
Departure dates and plans please!
I wouldn’t have thought this would be such a big deal. Did harriers never fly from carriers in Portsmouth, ever?
They embarked on Hermes and Invincible whilst they lay in Portsmouth Harbour before both ships sailed for the Falklands in 1982
Do we seriously need a risk assessment for an F-35 taking off from home port?
They’ve been testing in the middle of the ocean which I have a feeling is a little trickier to take off from that a post with the ship at rest.
How rubbish do they think the pilots are?
If I was a member of the crew I’d be insulted at the idea of needing this.
I wish I could edit my post and get rid of the terrible typo’s.
Peter, why don’t you just read what you’ve typed before you post it, only takes a few seconds.
Yes because its a BAE run site… you need a bloody risk assessment to breathe outside at BAE…
A risk assessment will be needed just in case there is a technical fault during take off. In the open ocean there are no houses to crash into…
I doubt Portsmouth Council are to concerned about the plan or carrier. Probably more concerned about the surrounding community.
I remember seeing one on board when she was off Weymouth but I just assumed it had flown off to RAF Marham… Not so! … Anyway, Portsmouth City Council need not worry. The Royal Navy know what they are doing. Let them watch in awe.
Nice thing about jump jets… You don’t have to be underway to GET them underway…
Cheers!
If the Navy were really switched on. They would knock out an wee film clip along the lines of the start of 60s TV show Thunderbirds which’s starts with 5,4,3,2,1 or the anything could happen in the next half hour from Stingray. I mean if you are going to sell this, at least sell it.