Engineering Excellence

The F-35 Ski Jump

"We've worked with WFEL for many years and knew they had the intellectual capital, as well as quality manufacturing processes, needed to deliver a challenging and bespoke project like this."

Tom Briggs, from the US Defense F-35 Integrated Test Force


In 2005, US Defense approached WFEL to design a solution that would allow it to test the new F-35B Joint Strike Fighter which simulated the 'ski jump' of naval aircraft carrier runways.

Greg Roney WFEL Tom Chaillou and Tom Briggs F35 Integrated Test Forum Ian Wilson WFEL
(L to R) Greg Roney WFEL Tom Chaillou and Tom Briggs F35 Integrated Test Forum Ian Wilson WFEL
A design was finalised by WFEL within a year and following successful 90-ton load tests and a full design review at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland USA, a contract was awarded by the Department of Defense.

The result was the world's first land-based ski jump – a 250-ton land-based structure that replicates the runway of aircraft carriers operated by the British and Italian navies, both of which are due to acquire the supersonic short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B in the next decade.


Read the full press release 'WFEL set to soar after latest American deal'.