Inventing the Joint Strike Fighter

Dr Paul Bevilaqua, Chief Engineer of the Lockheed Martin "Skunk Works" will speak on "Inventing the Joint Strike Fighter" at the Australian National University in Canberra, 1 May 2014 from 6:00 PM. He will speak on the F-35 aircraft, which is being ordered for the Royal Australian Air-force. Dr Bevilaqua developed the F-35-B lift fan for the Short Takeoff / Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter. Australia is planning to order the conventional take-off F-35A, which does not use a lift fan. However, I have suggested eighteen F-35b aircraft be ordered, to equip Australia's two Canberra Class amphibious assault ships, which have a flight deck designed for STOVL aircraft.