The second production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft to be delivered, BF-8, arrives at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. on Jan. 11, 2012. BF-8 was delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 at Eglin. BF-8 followed the first production model STOVL, BF-6, which was delivered earlier the same day. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
The first F-35B production aircraft, known as BF-6, takes off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base for delivery on Jan. 11, 2012. The aircraft was headed the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 stationed with the 33d Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
BF-6, the first F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) production jet delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps, arrives at its new assignment with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 at Eglin AFB, Fla. The 5th Generation fighter jet, piloted by U.S. Marine Corps pilot Maj. Joseph Bachmann, touched down on Florida’s Emerald Coast at 3:13 p.m. CST after a 90-minute ferry flight. It was followed by BF-8, which landed at 4:39 p.m. CST piloted by U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt Taylor. BF-6 and BF-8 are the first F-35s delivered to the base in 2012 and the seventh and eighth F-35 now stationed there. The aircraft will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the base’s new F-35 Integrated Training Center. (photo by Angel DelCueto)
BF-4, the second F-35B test aircraft to land aboard amphibious assault ship USS WASP (LHD-1), flies to the ship on Oct. 6, 2011 with Marine Corps Maj. Richard Rusnok at the controls. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
F-35B test aircraft BF-2 approaches USS WASP (LHD-1) on October 3, 2011, for the first F-35 carrier landing. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft CF-2 is performing Jet Blast Deflector (JBD) tests at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
The Government of Canada announces that the Canadian Forces will receive 65 fifth generation Joint Strike Fighter F-35 aircraft, beginning in 2016, as a replacement to its current fleet of CF-18s. (Photo credit: Cpl Darcy Lefebvre/DND-MDN Canada)
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter makes its initial flight Dec. 15 over Fort Worth, Texas. (Lockheed Martin photo/David Drais)
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter's initial flight took place Dec. 15 over Fort Worth, Texas. (Lockheed Martin photo/David Drais)
An F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter takes off at 12:44 p.m. CST at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas Dec. 15 for an initial flight as part of system development testing. (Lockheed Martin photo/Tom Harvey)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley announced Lightning II as the F-35 name during a Joint Strike Fighter inauguration ceremony July 7 at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. at Fort Worth, Texas. The F-35 Lightning II is the next generation strike fighter bringing cutting-edge technologies to the battlespace of the future. The Lightning II features an advanced airframe, autonomic logistics, avionics, propulsion systems, stealth and firepower. (U.S. Navy photo/Chief Petty Officer Eric A. Clement)
The X-35, Joint Strike Fighter from Lockheed Martin nears completion of flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in 2001. The JSF is being built in three variants: a conventional take-off and landing aircraft (CTOL) for the US Air Force; a carrier based variant (CV) for the US Navy; and a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft for the US Marine Corps and the Royal Navy. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Lt. Col. Paul Smith of the Air Force and X-35 Chief Test Pilot Tom Morgenfeld each flew the X-35C. Both had flown the similar X-35A extensively during that plane's fight-test program. (Courtesy photo)
Lockheed Martin's X-35C Joint Strike Fighter touches down at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Dec. 18, 2000, after its first flight. The carrier variant JSF will be tested at Edwards and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (Courtesy photo by Judson Brohmer)
Lockheed martin's X-35C Joint Strike Fighter concept demonstrator crosses a dry lakebed on its way to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The X-35C will undergo testing at Edwards for more than a month before moving on to Naval Air Station Paxtuxent River, Md. (Courtesy photo by Judson Brohmer)
The X-35C Joint Strike Fighter concept demonstrator leaves Palmdale, Calif., for nearby Edwards Air Force Base. The 27-minute sortie was the X-35C's maiden flight. (Courtesy photo by Greg Roberts)
Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter, the X-35C, nears completion of flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The concept demonstrator will move to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for flight testing at sea level. Testing at NAS Patuxent River will give evaluators a more accurate picture of the JSF's carrier-suitability performance. The JSF has made 20 sorties at Edwards to field test carrier landings, expansion of the flight envelope and initiating tanker-qualification trials. (Courtesy photo)
Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter concept demonstrator, the X-35A, broke the sound barrier Nov. 21, 2000, at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The X-35A has finished flight testing and now is being re-fitted in nearby Palmdale to become the X-35B. (Courtesy photo by Tom Reynolds)
Lockheed Martin's X-35A Joint Strike Fighter Concept demonstrator broke the sound barrier Nov. 21, 2000, just 25 hours and 25 test flights into its airborne program at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The X-35A is being re-fitted into the X-35B and has begun ground testing in preparation for its short takeoff/vertical landing demonstrations. (Courtesy photo by Tom Reynolds)
