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Airframe Details for F-35 #BF-17

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F-35 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: BF-17
LM Aero T/V BF-17
Plant LMTAS
Local C/N
Delivered USMC 168313
F-35B
Current USMC 168313
F-35B
Status [act]
Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew F-35B BF-17 (USN Bureau Number 168313) on its inaugural 1.2-hour flight on July 24th, 2012 from NAS Fort Worth. Nicknamed "Jail Bait".


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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
21 Aug 2012 [act] 168313 F-35B
04 Oct 2012 [act] 168313 USMC VMFAT-501 'VM-12' F-35B
Loaned to VX-23 and was always planned to go to Edwards AFB after this assignment.
05 Mar 2013 [act] 168313 USAF 461 FLTS '12' F-35B
On loan from VMFAT-501 to the F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) at Edwards AFB and assigned to the 461 FLTS. Aircraft was used from late 2014 till early 2015 to test aerial refueling from both KC-135 and KC-10 at Edwards AFB. A drogue adapter fitted on the refuelling boom on the KC-135 and hose-and-drogue built into the KC-10. Testing involved all kinds of lighting conditions and served to tests the refueling probe light.
Apr 2014 [act] 168313 USAF 461 FLTS '17' F-35B
On loan from VMFAT-501 to the F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) at Edwards AFB and assigned to the 461 FLTS. 461st FLTS markings applied, but no tail code.
Mar 2020 [act] 168313 USMC VMX-1 'MV-53' F-35B
Jul 2020 [act] 168313 USMC VMX-1 'MV-58' F-35B


Abbreviations and symbols:
[act] Active [i/a] Instructional Airframe [sto] Stored (e.g. at AMARG)
[cld] Cancelled Order [msh] Involved in Mishap [w/o] Write-off
[con] Converted [o/o] On Order
[des] Destroyed (drone) [pre] Preserved (museum, gateguard) T/V LM Aero Type/Version (Construction) number
[emb] Embargoed [scr] Scrapped Photo Available
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