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F-35 Takes Inaugural Production Flight

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/26/2011 16:10 -0400

And now, we have a working F-35. Defensetech reports: "A new chapter in the history of U.S. Air Force fighters began
yesterday when the service’s fist production model F-35 Joint Strike
Fighter took to the skies at Lockheed’s Fort Worth, TX., facility for
the very first time. Yes, the program’s had its troubles and the
Marines’ B-model is nowhere near ready for production but this marks the
beginning of the program becoming an operational reality. This flight
paves the way for Air Force instructor pilots to start flying the jets
at Eglin Air Force Base, in Florida starting this May. This means,
believe or not, we’re finally going to see operational F-35s. Still,
it’s gonna be a while. The IOC date for the Air Force remains 2016." Luckily, it can now be deployed tomorrow... if need be.

And the official Lockheed Press Release:

The first production model of the Lockheed Martin F-35
Lightning II made its inaugural flight today in preparation for delivery
to the U.S. Air Force this spring. The jet will head to Edwards Air
Force Base, Calif., to support developmental testing shortly after the
Air Force takes delivery.

“The aircraft was rock-solid from takeoff to landing, and
successfully completed all the tests we put it through during the
flight,” said Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti. “The Air Force
is getting a great jet that represents a huge leap in capability, and
we’re looking forward to getting it into the hands of the service pilots
in just a few more weeks.”

During the flight, the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A
variant, known as AF-6, underwent basic flight maneuvering and engine
tests. Test Pilot Gigliotti took off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth
Joint Reserve Base at 3:05 p.m. CST and landed at 4:05 p.m. The jet will
continue flight tests in Fort Worth for about a month before it is
accepted by the Air Force.

The F-35A CTOL variant – designed to meet U.S. Air Force requirements
– is also the primary export version of the Lightning II. The air
forces of Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark,
Norway and Israel will employ the F-35A.

Deliveries of the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant to the
U.S. Marine Corps also begin this year, while deliveries of the F-35C
carrier variant to the U.S. Navy start in 2012. Seventeen F-35s have
entered testing since December 2006, and have logged more than 650
flights and numerous ground tests.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced
stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information,
network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Lockheed Martin is
developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop
Grumman and BAE Systems.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security
company that employs about 132,000 people worldwide and is principally
engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration
and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8
billion.

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Sun, 02/27/2011 - 19:10 | 1002365 Vendetta

+. Take out the banksta's and finally the cost on the aircraft will provide a positive return on investment for a change.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 20:32 | 1000611 Quantum Nucleonics

Even though they delivered an F-35, that doesn't mean it could be deployed. It lacks a radar, mission avionics, and the ability to deploy any ordinance. The F-35 is an expensive piece of junk at $100m each. The F-22 is far superior, at a marginal cost of $130m. The F-35 has limited stealth features and weak avionics to make it exportable. It has a short range, low cruise speed, and a low Max altitude. It carries just 4 weapons, while competiting fighters carry 8- 10. We will rue the day we canceled the F-22.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 03:00 | 1001244 ebworthen

Someone's Father-in-law had his career/retirement bet on the F-35.

We can only hope they sent the F-22 funds to a drone project (see my comment below).

Human pilots in the plane are obsolete.

Pretty soon fighter jets will be too.

Orbital space is the next battleground.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 20:44 | 1000631 Piranhanoia

I didn't know they still made dinosaurs up your way?

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 21:27 | 1000677 glenlloyd

Oh looky....the new dreamliner!

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 22:42 | 1000851 Yen Cross

Come on GoinFawr! I want to orbit your globe . Lets dance!

Sat, 03/19/2011 - 03:12 | 1001279 GoinFawr

"Round and round the Mulberry bush..."

Not. Even. Cls.

Too Tough to Tang o.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h92Z8Y1DjCA&NR=1&feature=fvwp

You still haven't got it yet. When will you get it? Can you?

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 22:49 | 1000867 Yen Cross

Now it's my turn you whimp!

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 00:59 | 1001097 GoinFawr

Your turn to what, come up with a half decent burn?

Well, yeaaah... we're still waiting tuff gie.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 23:01 | 1000888 Yen Cross

Catch my Love Goin Fawr?

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 00:45 | 1001062 GoinFawr

Oh yah, nothing but bluescreens ovah heah.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 23:08 | 1000912 Yen Cross

You ar.e decripted! I know your proxies

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 00:42 | 1001034 GoinFawr

Hahah, yah right. You don't know jack.

Heh, I thought this was going to be an interesting discussion, not a contest to see which one of us is doomed to die a virgin.

But since that is what it seems to be turning into: I concede, you've already won.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 23:27 | 1000965 omi

Pentagon Wars

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 00:46 | 1001074 Missiondweller

Let's see the Chinese try to make a knock-off of that!

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 02:38 | 1001222 Dave

The Pentagon's researching FM weapons now.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 02:57 | 1001241 ebworthen

We should already have a stealth jet with no human pilot in production.

A drone with no need for ejection seat, armor, etc.

Make it faster and carry more payload.

If we don't, we're stupid.

Let's hope the X-37 is in full production and that we can have a dozen in orbit at any one time loaded with tactial netruon nukes.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 04:53 | 1001336 honestann

All under the control of the fuhrer and banksters, right?

Yeah, that will be just great.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 11:36 | 1001577 ebworthen

Well, if I move to Hong Kong or Singapore I hope China does, how's that?

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 05:04 | 1001345 Rodent Freikorps

He who controls the orbitals, controls the whole world.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 12:40 | 1001646 spinone

Launch photon torpedoes, Mr. Chekov!

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 19:21 | 1002381 Quantum Nucleonics

Already in the works. X-47b UCAS had it's first flight this month. Picture a mini B-2. It will have carrier trials in 2013. Combat radius of around 1000nm with 4500lb bomb load.

The big problem with drones is the amount of bandwidth they hog. Just the Predator drones they use now are killing the military's communication network, and they are little more than RC planes. The challenge/solution will be in achieving a level of autonomy but still give remote operators a pilot's perspective.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 03:11 | 1001257 props2009