The F-35 Cockpit

The F-35 Cockpit: Enabling the Pilot as a Tactical Decision Maker

Dr. Michael L. Skaff created this briefing. Skaff described his background in a recent interview as follows:

I was an F-16 pilot out of the Air Force Academy. I was prior enlisted, and I’ve been with Lockheed Martin for about 23 years working on the F-35 cockpit since ’95. I flew out of MacDill, Shaw, and Luke during the Cold War.

For a full discussion with Skaff regarding the baseline F-35 please see

http://www.sldinfo.com/understanding-the-basic-f-35-what-is-in-the-baseline-aircraft/

1. The F-35 Cockpit: Enabling the Pilot as a Tactical Decision Maker Michael L. Skaff F-35 Pilot Vehicle Interface

2. Maximized Accommodation For Higher Utility & Safety Active Inceptors Compound Rudder Adjustment Data Bus Communication for Ejection Seat Tilting Seat (adjustment Limited for ejection safety) Wide FOV HMD w/ Virtual HUD Spherical IR & low light Imagery to Improve SA in All Weather and Night Operations Integrated Life Support System Novel STOVL Controls Reduce Training Requirements Provides Controllability with Fewer Inceptors 8- by 20-inch Contiguous Display with Portal Formatting Concept to Improve Information Cognition, System Control, and Flexibility Stereo Audio & Voice Control Increase Information Quantity and Quality While Decreasing Pilot Workload Next-Generation Escape System Auto-ejection New Technologies and an Innovative Approach to Pilot Vehicle Interface Produce a Capable and Flexible Cockpit F-35 Cockpit

3. Cockpit Philosophy Let the Pilot be the Tactician By Managing Workload Automation Of Tasks Let Computers Do What Computers Do Best Let the Pilot Do What Pilots Do Best Providing Tools That Build And Maintain Situation Awareness (SA) pursuant to Information Dominance Concise Information Timely Information Quickly Interpreted Information Realize That All Design Efforts Are Based On Combat Value Added: The Requirement is to Increase Lethality and Survivability Beyond that of Current Aircraft

4. Controls & Displays Pilot Centered Design Approach PILOT Controls Displays A/C System Manager Tactical Sensor Manager Sensor Suite Combat Flight Manager A/C Systems Prognostic Health Manager External Environment Internal Environment

5. F-35 Cockpit Display

6. JSF Conceptual Displays Information Dominance -vs- Information Overload Air to Air TSD Air to Ground TSD Mission Tailorable

7. F-35 Panoramic Cockpit Display Tactical Situation Display Stores Management Display Targeting FLIR Synthetic Aperture Radar

8. F-35 Panoramic Cockpit Display Tactical Situation Display (double wide) Targeting FLIR Synthetic Aperture Radar (ground movers)

9. Mission Reconfigurable Cockpit

10. Mission Reconfigurable Cockpit Primary concepts: - Master-Modeless - Rule based Tactical Sensor Manager - Mission Integrated Flight Controls - Auto Target Cueing Air to Air Format Air to Ground Format Tactical Situation Display

11. Joint Attack Strike Technology Primary concepts: - System of Systems - Advanced Information Management System - Sensor measurement errors “ not a perfect world ” Air to Air Format Air to Ground Format Tactical Situation Display

12. F-35 Helmet Mounted Display Virtual Head-up Display, no Physical HUD in Jet

13. F-35 Helmet Mounted Display Virtual HUD Looking Forward Target Designation Symbology at Edge of Field of View

14. F-35 Helmet Mounted Display Helmet Mounted Display Looking Behind the Aircraft Enemy Air Target Designator Symbols Ownship Missile In-flight