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The United States Air Force has undertaken an innovative project to combine parts from two damaged F-35 Lightning II aircraft into a single operational unit. This unique creation, dubbed the 'Franken-Lightning', integrates components from two separate incidents involving F-35s. The cockpit was sourced from AF-27, which suffered an engine fire in 2014 at Eglin AFB, Florida. The second part came from AF-211, which experienced a nose landing gear separation in June 2020.
The project is spearheaded by the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), with collaboration from engineers at Lockheed Martin and the 388th Fighter Wing. Dan Santos, heavy maintenance manager for the F-35 JPO, described it as "a first for the F-35 program and a very exciting project."
Lockheed Martin's design allowed for theoretical disassembly and reassembly of all parts of the F-35. However, this capability had not been practically tested until this initiative began in January 2020. Additional updates and repairs were necessary to ensure full functionality of the new aircraft.
