Over Three Hundred Thirty Test Flights Completed Since The
Beginning Of The Year
Since the last F-35 flight test program update issued March 31,
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft have conducted 125 test
flights, bringing the total number of flights for the year to
331.
Several flight test key milestones were accomplished since the
last report:
The F-35 program flew the most flights ever recorded on one day
(May 6) when a combined total of eight test flights were completed
at all three of its flight test locations. (Edwards AFB, CA; Fort
Worth, TX, and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD.)
The U.S. Air Force accepted into its fleet the first of a
planned 1,763 production-model F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters
when AF-7 was delivered to Edwards Air Force Base, CA, on May
6. It is the first aircraft from Low Rate Initial Production
(LRIP) lot one delivered.
The first F-35A production aircraft that will be delivered to
Eglin Air Force Base, FL, accomplished its first flight on May 6.
Known as AF-8, the aircraft will be delivered to Eglin for pilot
and maintainer training later this year. This jet is the first
aircraft to fly from Low Rate Initial Production lot
two.
The second F-35C carrier variant (CV), known as CF-2, completed
its first flight April 29. Later this month it is scheduled
to be delivered to the F-35 test fleet at Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, MD, (PAX).
The program recorded the 300th System Development and
Demonstration flight of 2011 on May 6.
At Edwards, F-35s passed the 250 flight mark of the
conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant on May 5. The
first test jets, AF-1 and AF-2, arrived there on May 17, 2010.
Two more F-35B short takeoff /vertical landing (STOVL) jets,
BF-3 and BF-4 performed their first vertical landings. BF-4
flew its mission on April 27 and BF-3 on April 29. STOVL jets have
conducted 94 vertical landings to date in 2011.
The following totals and highlights capture the overall flight
test activity since March 31, and cumulative totals for 2011:
F-35A (CTOL) aircraft conducted 57 flights. In 2011, CTOL
jets have flown 146 times.
F-35B (STOVL) aircraft conducted 43 flights. In 2011,
STOVL aircraft have completed 144 flights and 84 vertical
landings.
F-35C (CV) aircraft accomplished 25 flights. In 2011, CV
jets have flown 41 times.
From the start of flight testing in December 2006 through
Tuesday, F-35s have flown 878 times.
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