COBI Building Set AF F-35B Lightning II (COBI-5830)

Model kit of the American 5th generation aircraft with vertical take-off F-35B Lightning II. The assembled model has a tilting cockpit cover for seating a pilot figure and an opening bomb bay with a pair of ASRAAM missiles. Another 6 missiles are mounted on underwing pylons. The landing gear wheels are not retractable due to the model's construction, but they can be easily removed. The model can be placed on a stand with a description, which is included in the package.

Interesting facts:
» At the beginning of the F-35 development, there was an effort to replace several types of outdated single-purpose aircraft, such as the A-10 Thunderbolt, F-16, AV-8B, F/A-18 Hornet, and to produce one universal machine for the USAF and NATO with stealth technology.
» The first works on the JSF program began in 1996, when two teams from Boeing and Lockheed competed against each other. The Boeing X32A aircraft prototype was completed prematurely and the first test flight took place on September 18, 2000, which had to be prematurely terminated due to an oil leak.
» After transitional modifications, both competing prototypes were very similar, but ultimately Lockheed Martin won with better control and more advanced sensors.
» The preparation of the production line and supporting technologies took another 6 years, until in February 2006, the first manufactured aircraft was completed in strict secrecy.
» The result is probably the best combat aircraft in the world, which is to be the basis of aircraft for the next 50 years.
» A new Pratt & Whithey engine was also developed for the F-35, which has a thrust of more than 190 kN with afterburning and is probably the most powerful engine ever made for a fighter aircraft.
» The aircraft is equipped with the most modern technologies, such as the AESA radar, which is capable of targeting 23 targets in 9 seconds, or the Gen 2 and 3 helmet, which provides perfect visibility around the aircraft in all directions. Many other technologies are not available in detail because they are subject to strict secrecy.
» The United States Air Force expects to purchase 2,443 aircraft, with the price of one being 237,700,000 USD, which is truly an astronomical sum.
» The operation of the aircraft is also expensive, with one flight hour costing approximately 36,000 €. Do you want to fly :-) ?
 
Technical parameters of the original:
Dimensions: wingspan 10.7 m, length 15.6 m, height 4.36 m
Weight: 14,700 kg (empty)
Maximum take-off weight: 27,300 kg 
Power unit: 1x Pratt & Whithey F 135 turbofan engine with a thrust of 165 kN
Maximum speed: 1.6M (1,930 km/h)
Maximum flight altitude: 18,288 m
Climb rate: (secret value)
Range: 1,090 km
Armament: 4-barrel rotary cannon GAU-22/A caliber 25 mm and 6 pylons for air-to-air, air-to-ground missiles, and smart bombs with a total weight of up to 6,800 kg.
Crew: 1

Parameters:
Number of figures: 1 pc
Scale: 1:48
Dimensions after assembly: 21.5 x 32.5 x 10 cm
Number of bricks: 594 pcs
Recommended age: 8+
Bricks can be combined with another well-known brand: Yes
Collection: Armed Forces