F-35 Recovered

F-35C Lightning II

Navy personnel operating from a commercial salvage ship have recovered the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that suffered a ramp strike on the deck of USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and crashed into the South China Sea.

The aircraft, assigned to the “Argonauts” of VFA-147 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA), was recovered from the ocean floor with the salvage vessel DSCV Picasso.

“The wreckage was recovered from a depth of approximately 12,400-feet by a team from CTF 75 and the NAVSEA’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) embarked on the diving support construction vessel (DSCV) Picasso,” reads a statement from U.S. 7th Fleet.

“The aircraft was recovered using a CURV-21, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which attached specialized rigging and lift lines to the aircraft. The ship’s crane lifting hook was then lowered to the seafloor and connected to the rigging, and then lifted the aircraft to the surface and hoisted it onboard Picasso.”

Poetrooper sends.

Navy recovers stealth F-35 from South China Sea

The fighter jet had fallen into the ocean after a crash landing on carrier.
By Luis Martinez and Matt Seyler

The U.S. Navy said Thursday it has recovered the stealth F-35C fighter jet that fell into the South China Sea after a crash landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in late January.

The jet’s resting place in international waters had fueled speculation that China might want to attempt its own salvage operations of the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jet.

On Jan. 24 while conducting regular flight operations in the South China Sea the jet crashed on the carrier’s deck while attempting a landing. It ultimately slid off of the deck into the ocean waters and seven sailors, including the pilot, were injured in the crash.

ABC News

That’s one in a row for PINO Joe, proving the Theory of Blind Chipmunks.

Thanks Poe.

Category: China, Guest Link, Navy