Technicians inspect the center fuselage for the first F-35 JSF, which arrived on on May 3, at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. The completed midsection, built by Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, Calif.,was shipped on Saturday, April 30. It will be joined to the Lockheed...

The F-35C has larger wing and tail control surfaces for improved control for carrier landing. [unknown photographer]

The F-35C naval version has a stronger internal structure to withstand catapult assisted launches and tailhook arrested landings. [unknown photographer]

The larger wing of the naval F-35C provides increased range and payload capacity [LMTAS photo]

X-35C [LMTAS photo]

The United States Navy version of the JSF, piloted by Joe Sweeney, took to the skies on Saturday, Dec. 16th 2000, initiating a flight-test program that focused on carrier-suitable flying qualities and aircraft performance. [LMTAS photo]

X-35C [LMTAS photo]

FCLPs are a critical component of carrier-suitability testing. During an FCLP, the pilot shoots the landing approach exactly as he would on an aircraft carrier, guided to touchdown by a Fresnel lens and a Landing Signal Officer [LMTAS photo]

During FCLPs, the pilot stays on the glide slope by focusing on the Fresnel lens display and keeping the "ball", properly aligned between two horizontal rows of green lights. Approach speeds are characteristically slow, requiring precise control inputs by the pilot and a high...