Forum: F-35 milestones

First production-level F-35B arrives at NAS Patuxent River
09 Oct 2012

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - BF-17, part of the third lot of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP 3) F-35B Lightning II aircraft, arrives at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Oct. 4. BF-17 will temporarily add to the complement of F-35B and F-35C test aircraft at the F-35 Integrated Test Facility before heading to its destination at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter designed for use by U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., prior to delivery to the fleet. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

Source: http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fu ... mp;id=5140

The headline begs the question, What makes it production level?

I'm thinking because it's not a SDD jet.

...Hopefully these LRIP-3 jets will be easier to maintain than the earlier ones off the line - there has been some grumbling about amount of MX required by the current -Bs at Pax.

...Grumbling, sadly or maybe amusingly, seems to be a part of many job descriptions.

...There was concern noted at the September DAB meeting about the amount/costs associated with maintenance of the aircraft in general (not reported by variant.)...