COBI Building Set AF F-35B Stovl Lightning II (COBI-5895)

American combat aircraft Lockheed Martin F‑35B STOVL Lightning II | COBI 5895 | Armed Forces 1:48

Model kit of the American multi-role aircraft 5th generation with vertical take-off F‑35B Lightning II in the colors of the Italian Air Force. The assembled model has a tilting cockpit cover for the pilot figure and an opening bomb bay with a pair of ASRAAM missiles. Another six missiles are mounted on pylons under the wings. The landing gear wheels are not retractable but can be easily removed. The model can also be displayed on a stand with a description, which is included in the package. The kit is produced under the official license of Lockheed Martin.

Technical data of the kit

» Number of figures: 1 pc
» Version (series): 11/2024
» Scale: 1:48
» Dimensions when assembled: 21.5 × 32.5 × 10 cm
» Box dimensions (packaging): 45 × 28 × 6 cm
» Number of bricks: 610 pcs
» Package weight: 760 g
» Recommended age: 9+
» Bricks can be combined with another well-known brand: Yes
» Collection: Armed Forces
» Contains glowing bricks: No
» Material: Plastic

At the beginning of the development of the F‑35, there was an ambition to replace several types of older aircraft such as A‑10, F‑16, AV‑8B, and F/A‑18 with a single universal machine for the USAF and NATO, equipped with stealth technology.

Work on the JSF program began in 1996, when teams from Boeing and Lockheed Martin competed against each other. Although Boeing completed the prototype X‑32A earlier, issues during testing and better parameters of the competitor decided in favor of Lockheed.

The first serial aircraft was completed in 2006 and the result is one of the most advanced combat aircraft in the world, which is to be the foundation of aviation for the next 50 years.

For the F‑35, a completely new Pratt & Whitney engine with a thrust of up to 190 kN was developed, the most powerful for a fighter jet ever. The aircraft is equipped with an AESA radar capable of targeting 23 targets in 9 seconds and Gen 2 and 3 helmets, which provide the pilot with perfect situational awareness in every direction.

The American Air Force plans to purchase over 2,400 units of the F‑35, with each costing approximately 237 million USD and the cost per flight hour being 36,000 €. The Italian Air Force is to operate up to 75 aircraft of this type.

Technical specifications

» Dimensions: wingspan 10.7 m, length 15.6 m, height 4.36 m
» Weight (empty): 14,700 kg
» Maximum take-off weight: 27,300 kg
» Powerplant: 1× turbofan engine Pratt & Whitney F135 with a thrust of 165 kN
» Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 (1,930 km/h)
» Maximum flight altitude: 18,288 m
» Climb rate: (classified value)
» Range: 1,090 km
» Armament: four-barrel GAU‑22/A cannon caliber 25 mm, 6 pylons for air-to-air, air-to-ground missiles, and smart JDAM bombs up to a weight of 6,800 kg
» Crew: 1 person
 

Italian pilot on the F-35 Lightning II:
Our first introduction and training with the F-35 aircraft took place and continues to take place at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. During formation flight practice before a simulated battle, one of our colleagues accidentally activated a setting we call friendly mode. Opera music, which the colleague had set as his favorite music, played in all pilots' cockpits. This amused us greatly, and we all started singing along. After a few seconds, the training commander interrupted us with the words: You are on a mission, not at karaoke.