Initial flight of the F-35 Lightning II on Dec. 15, 2006 over Fort Worth, Texas. [LMTAS photo by David Drais]

The F-35A, AA-1, inbound for landing after its first flight on December 15th, 2006. [Photo by Dipstick]

The F-35A, AA-1, inbound for landing after its first flight on December 15th, 2006. [Photo by Dipstick]

The F-35 Lightning II cruises over North Texas at 20,000 feet on Monday, Jan. 8. F-35 Chief Test Pilot Jon Beesley described the aircraft as "dazzling" as he put it through a battery of handling and propulsion tests on its second flight. [LMTAS photo]
See also: F-35 demonstrates capabilities during flawless second flight

[LMTAS photo]

A 737-300 aircraft extensively modified by BAE Systems takes of for its maiden flight Jan. 23 at Mojave, California. This aircraft known as the "CAT-Bird", is a flying test bed that replicates the F-35 avionics suite. [LMTAS photo]

The modified 737-300 known as the "CAT-Bird" is seen here over the Mojave desert on its maiden flight Jan. 23 2007. The aircraft develops and verifies the F-35's capability to collect data from multiple sensors and fuse it into a coherent situational awareness display in a...

[LMTAS photo]

[LMTAS photo]