F-35 Lightning II on 11 December 2006. [LMTAS Photo]

The F-35 Lightning II during high speed taxi tests on Dec 12th [Photo by Zane Adams]

The F-35 Lightning II during high speed taxi tests on Dec 12th [Photo by Zane Adams]

The first F-35 Lightning II speeds along the runway at 127 miles per hour on Dec. 12 at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. Engineers will review the taxi-test data before giving the final "go" for the aircraft's first flight. [LMTAS photo]
See also: F-35 finishes all taxi testing, prepares for flight

The first F-35 Lightning II flew for the first time on Friday, Dec. 15. The plane is shown taking off from Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. [LMTAS photo by Neal Chapman]
See also: F-35 Lightning II completes first flight

The first F-35 Lightning II flew for the first time on Friday, Dec. 15. The plane is shown climbing out shortly after takeoff from Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. [LMTAS Photo by Tom Harvey]
See also: F-35 Lightning II completes first flight

The F-35, took off for its first flight on 15 December 2006 from NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX to test the aircraft's initial capability. [USN photo by Mass Communications Specialist Second Class, D. Keith Simmons]

The F-35, took off for its first flight on 15 December 2006 from NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX to test the aircraft's initial capability. [USN photo by Mass Communications Specialist Second Class, D. Keith Simmons]

The F-35, took off for its first flight on 15 December 2006 from NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX to test the aircraft's initial capability. [USN photo by Mass Communications Specialist Second Class, D. Keith Simmons]