-
The last F-35B Lightning II BF-05 assigned to developmental flight testing departs NAS Fort Worth JRB on its first flight on January 26th, 2010. [Lockheed Martin photo by Randy Crites]
-
CF-01 on its 32nd flight over Chesapeake and to runway 14 at NAS Patuxent River on February 11th, 2011. This was the first F-35C flight for Lt.Cdr. Eric Buus. [Lockheed Martin photo by Andy Wolfe]
-
Al Norman, a veteran Lockheed Martin experimental test pilot, was named chief test pilot for the F-35 program on February 21st, 2011. Norman replaces former F-35 chief test pilot Jon Beesley, who retired January 31st, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Angel DelCueto]
-
Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson is at the controls for the 100th flight of F-35B BF-02 and first to reach this milestone on February 26th, 2011. The 1.1-hour flight from NAS Patuxent River, included three short takeoffs, two slow landings, and one vertical landing. BF-2 has accumulated more than 130 flight hours. [Lockheed Martin photo by Andy Wolfe]
-
Navy Capt. Michael Saunders leads a contingent of Navy personnel charged with standing up the first Navy Fleet Replacement Squadron, VFA-101 and preparing the way for the Navy’s newest fighter, the F-35C. [USAF photo by Samuel King Jr.]
-
F-35A AF-1 aerial refuels over the Pacific Ocean on a flight from Edwards AFB, California. [Photo by David Henry]
-
Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson was at the controls of F-35 BF-2 and RAF Sqdn. Ldr. Steve Long was at the controls of F-35 BF-3 for a formation flying qualities test on March 17th, 2011. This was Flight 105 for BF-2 and Flight 95 for BF-3. This was the second formation flight test for F-35B. The first one occurred on November 10th, 2010. [Lockheed Martin photo by Andy Wolfe]
-
On March 8th, 2011 the F-35 System Development and Demonstration flight test program reached 1,000 cumulative flight hours. The total was surpassed during a formation flight with AF-1 and AF-4 at Edwards AFB, California. [Photo by David Drais]
-
CF-01 approaches the TC-7 catapult at NAS Patuxent River on March 22nd, 2011. USMC test pilot Lt. Col. Matt 'Opie' Taylor at the controls, CF-01 completed functional checks and performed the first test hookup of the F-35C to the catapult. [Lockheed Martin photo]
-
BF-04, the fourth F-35 STOVL test aircraft, flies mode 4 for the first time on April 7th, 2011 at NAS Patuxent River, piloted by Fred 'Tinman' Schenk. Mode 4 engages the F-35 STOVL's shaft-driven LiftFan system that allows the aircraft to hover, perform short take-offs and land vertically.[Lockheed Martin photo by Liz Kaszynski]
-
Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson was at the controls for the 100th flight of F-35B BF-03 from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland on April 21st, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Michael D. Jackson]
-
Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti takes F-35C CF-02 on its first taxi test in Fort Worth on April 21st, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Carl Richards]
-
Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson put F-35B BF-03 into STOVL mode for the first time on Flight 101 on April 25th, 2011 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. [Lockheed Martin photo by Andy Wolfe]
-
Marine Lt. Col. Fred Schenk, pilots the fourth short take-off/vertical landing by F-35B BF-04 on April 27th, 2011 at NAS Patuxent River. [Lockheed Martin photo by Andy Wolfe]
-
Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti was at the controls for the first flight of F-35C CF-02 on April 29th, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Carl Richards]
