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BK-1, the United Kingdom’s first Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II production aircraft, flew its inaugural flight Friday. Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti took the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet through a series of functional flight checks during a sortie that lasted 45 minutes. The jet will complete a series of company and government checkout flights prior to its acceptance by the U.K. Ministry of Defence. The U.K. MOD will use this 5^th Generation fighter for training and operational tests at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., beginning later this year.

"Not only is this a watershed moment for the Joint Strike Fighter program, since BK-1 is the first international F-35 to fly, but it also brings us one step closer to delivery of this essential 5th Generation capability for the U.K., " said Group Captain Harv Smyth, the Joint Strike Fighter U.K. National Deputy ...

The first F-35 Lightning II for The Netherlands rolled out of the F-35 production facility on April 1. This is the latest step in the production process leading to its eventual assignment to Eglin AFB, Fla., later this summer. The Netherlands will use the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jet, known as AN-1, for training and operational tests for pilots and maintainers. AN-1 will undergo functional fuel system checks before being transported to the flight line for ground and flight tests in the coming weeks. The Royal Netherlands Air Force continues to be at the forefront of flight testing and pilot training and remains at the leading edge of advanced 5^th Generation fighter technology.

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program continues to build on its 2011 flight test success. For 2012, the baseline F-35 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) flight test plan calls for the accumulation of 1,001 test flights and 7,873 test points. However, growth in test point requirements throughout the year is anticipated, and the plan will be adjusted as needed.

As of Feb. 20, the F-35 Lightning II 5th Generation multirole fighter had conducted 114 flight tests and achieved 773 test points. A portion of the earned test points came from work added to the flight test baseline plan. Lockheed Martin has delivered three F-35s to the Department of Defense (DOD) year to date.

Since Jan. 1, the F-35 program accomplished several flight test and production milestones:

• On Jan. 9, AF-4, an F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) test aircraft, reached the highest altitude to date in an F-35; 43 ...

Lockheed Martin’s operation in Pinellas Park officially opened a new 57,000 square foot manufacturing facility today to produce aircraft canopy components for the F-35 Lighting II fighter.

The new facility is an annex to Lockheed Martin’s existing 197,000 square foot building that has been producing structural components for more than 10 different types of aircraft since 1997. The operation began with 80 employees and has since grown to its current workforce of 250, with additional jobs expected as the F-35 program moves toward peak production. The expanded facility can support production of up to 20 F-35 canopy units a month.

In remarks at the event, Harry Glenn, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Bill Young, chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, said, “The Lockheed Martin Pinellas facility has distinguished itself with its quality, safety and efficiency and has become a center of excellence ...

On Feb. 16, the first external weapons test mission was flown by an F-35A Conven tional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., further expanding the program’s flight test envelope. The weapons load for this mission involved carrying two air-to-air AIM-9X missiles on the outboard wing stations. In addition, the F-35 carried two internal 2,000-pound guided bombs (GBU-31) and two advanced medium range air-to-air missiles (AIM-120) inside the two internal weapon bays. No weapons were delivered during the mission. The jet also had mounted four external pylons that can carry 2,000-pound air-to-ground weapons. The F-35A 5th Generation fighter is designed to carry up to 18,000 pounds on 10 weapon stations featuring four weapon stations inside two weapon bays, for maximum stealth capability, and an additional three weapon stations on each wing.

(Lockheed Martin photos by Paul Weatherman)

The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Wednesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.  Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, launched at 5:05 p.m. PST and landed after sunset at 6:22 p.m. The mission consisted of a series of straight in approaches in twilight and darkness.  The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35’s cockpit lighting which Ward called, “the best he’s ever seen.”  The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year.

The first two Lockheed Martin production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps today. The two jets are now assigned to the 2^nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 residing with the host 33^d Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla.

The aircraft, known as BF-6 and BF-8, flew separately arriving at 3:13 p.m. and 4:39 p.m. CST respectively after their approximate 90 minute ferry flights from Fort Worth, Texas. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Joseph Bachmann piloted BF-6 while U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt Taylor flew BF-8. Both 5^th Generation fighters will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the new F-35 Integrated Training Center. 

“Today marks the beginning of a new era of advanced capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps,” said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin ...

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 flight test program continues to make progress. Since the last flight test update issued on Sept. 20, the F-35 Lightning II 5th Generation multirole fighter conducted 185 test flights, bringing the total number of test flights for the year to 837.

A major highlight for October was the completion of F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) ship suitability testing aboard the USS WASP (LHD-1) off the coast of Virginia. The test began when BF-2 executed the first shipboard vertical landing on Oct. 3. The next day, BF-2 executed the first short takeoff from the WASP. During the third week of sea trials, BF-2 and BF-4 operated simultaneously on the ship. Combined, they accomplished 72 short takeoffs and 72 vertical landings during the three-week testing period.

Several flight test and production key milestones were accomplished since the last report:

• October was the busiest month for flying in ...

AF-13, a conventional takeoff and landing variant F-35A, departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on Oct. 26 en route to Eglin Air Force Base. The 5th Generation fighter jet, piloted by U.S. Marine Corps pilot, Maj. Joseph Bachmann, touched down on Florida’s Emerald Coast at 11:44 a.m. after a 90-minute ferry flight. AF-13 is the sixth F-35A delivered to the 33d Fighter Wing in 2011. It will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the base’s new F-35 Integrated Training Center. AF-13 is the twelfth overall F-35 delivery in 2011.

(Lockheed Martin photo by Angel DelCueto)

BF-6, the first F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) production jet for the U.S. Marine Corps, made its inaugural flight on Oct. 25, marking yet another significant milestone in the F-35 program.  Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill “Gigs” Gigliotti, led the aircraft through a series of functional checks for the sortie that lasted almost one hour. BF-6 is slated to join the growing fleet of F-35 Lightning II training jets stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. later this year.

(Lockheed Martin photo by Randy Crites)

With Lt. Col. Eric “Emmitt” Smith at the controls, AF-12 gains altitude as it departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base yesterday for Florida. AF-12 was delivered to the 33d Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. It touched down at 4:03 p.m. CDT after a 90-minute flight becoming the fifth Lightning-II delivered to Eglin in 2011. The conventional takeoff and landing variant F-35A will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the base’s new F-35 Integrated Training Center. AF-12 is the eleventh F-35 delivery in 2011. 

(Lockheed Martin photo by Jack Noble)

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 flight test program moves closer to reaching year-end milestones since the last update issued July 26. Since then, the F-35 Lightning II 5th Generation multirole fighter conducted 124 test flights, bringing the total number of flights for the year to 642.

Overall, the F-35 system development and demonstration (SDD) flight test remains on or ahead of plan for 2011, despite 15 days of testing lost due to fleet stand-down after a ground mishap involving the Integrated Power Package (IPP). Flight testing was also interrupted at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md., because of an Aug. 23 earthquake and severe weather associated with Hurricane Irene. During this period of down time, the flight test teams at all locations continued working through planned modifications and maintenance.

As of Aug. 31, the fleet remained 8 percent ahead of plan in year-to-date (YTD) flights.

Several flight test and production ...

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program has successfully completed static structural testing, achieving one of five milestones established by the Joint Program Office for 2011.

Static structural testing is used to verify the structural integrity of the airframe and to ensure specifications outlined in technical drawings used to produce the aircraft are accurate. Engineering teams at Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and the Joint Program Office conducted the tests over the past two years.

In static structural testing, external loads designed to simulate the pressures of full envelope flight conditions are applied to hundreds of points on the airframe using an integrated system of load pads, hydraulic actuators, air pressurization mechanisms and reaction channels.

As proof that the airframe is capable of withstanding the pressures associated with the full flight envelope, engineers tested the structure to 115 percent of requirements and confirmed that no detrimental deformation of the structure occurred ...

Lockheed Martin’s first F-35 Lightning II center wing produced here is complete and en route to the F-35 final assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas.

“The delivery of this center wing is doubly important for Lockheed Martin’s Marietta site. Not only does it usher in a new era of aircraft assembly, but it also continues a strong 5th generation fighter tradition inherent to this facility,” said Shan Cooper, Lockheed Martin vice president and Marietta site general manager. “The F-35 fighter represents the future of air supremacy and the Marietta team is proud to contribute to this historic program.”

Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility is also home of the 5th Generation Coatings Center of Excellence, which supports all F-35 horizontal and vertical tail coating work.

This first Marietta-built center wing will be installed in the 25th F-35, an F-35B. With this center wing, Lockheed Martin begins a transition of ...