F-35 Lightning II Videos

Posted 13 April 2012

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The first F-35 night refueling tests were conducted from Edwards AFB, California, in March 2012.

<p>An F-35C CF-3 and CF-5 made arrested landings aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on 2 October 2015, operating off the east coast of the US as part of the second developmental test, or DT-II, at sea. While aboard Eisenhower from from 2 to 15 October, the F-35 Integrated Test Force will test F-35C carrier suitability and integration through a series of test events designed to gradually expand the aircraft operating envelope at sea.</p>

<p>The first flight of the first Italian F-35 marks the beginning of F-35 operations in Europe.</p>

<p>The first twenty-five F-35s fill the 56th Fighter Wing's first training squadron, the 61st Fighter Squadron. Subsequent F-35s arriving in 2015 will populate the second training unit, the 62nd Fighter Squadron. Eventually, the 56th Wing at Luke AFB will have six F-35 training squadrons flying 144 F-35s.</p>

<p>Lockheed Martin Air System Climatic Test Coordinator Vic Rodriguez talks about taking the F-35 through near-tropical storm conditions inside the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin AFB, Florida. </p>

<p>Four F-35A Lightning II fighters from the 61st Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona, perform a formation flyover at the beginning of the 2015 NFL Pro Bowl.</p>

<p>US Navy test pilot Cmdr. Tony Wilson made the first arrested landing of the F-35C Lightning II on an aircraft carrier on 3 November 2014. Wilson landed F-35C test aircraft CF-03 at 12:18 p.m. local time aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) underway at sea in the Pacific Ocean. He caught the number-three arresting wire. The arrested landing is part of initial at-sea Developmental Testing I (DT-1) for the F-35C, which expected to last two weeks. During DT-1, the F-35 Lightning II Integrated Test Force at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, has scheduled test pilots flying test aircraft CF-3 and CF-5 to perform a variety of operational maneuvers, including catapult takeoffs.DT-1 will also include general maintenance and fit tests for the aircraft and support equipment, as well as simulated maintenance operations. </p>

<p>F-35 program is in full swing in late 2014.</p>

<p>Cpl. Clayton Filipowicz, host of the USMC online show "With the Gear," visits the Lockheed Martin Fighter Demonstration Center in Washington, DC, to experience the F-35 helmet mounted display system and the F-35 demonstrator. The advanced aviation equipment gives pilots the ability to combine stealth and situational awareness to complete their mission.</p>

<p>The F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force conducted F-35B wet runway and crosswind landing tests at Edwards AFB and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, in April. In this video, Pax River ITF flight test engineers recap the testing conducted with BF-04 using real-world conditions of extreme runway conditions. </p>

<p>The first two Australian F-35s were officially unveiled at a ceremony at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, on 24 July 2014. </p>

<p>Two F-35Bs flew in close formation for the first time while in short takeoff/vertical landing, or STOVL, mode on 11 February 2014. BAE test pilot Peter Wilson flying F-35B BF-1 and Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin flying F-35B BF-5 conducted the mission from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The mission was used to evaluate the effects the aircraft had on one another while in STOVL mode to ensure F-35Bs can perform safely in formation while flying in an operational environment.</p>

<p>As the lead F-35 training location, the Integrated Training Center at Eglin AFB, Florida, has qualified pilots and maintainers from the US Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. The F-35 training system maximizes simulation to prepare pilots and maintainers before they head to the flight line.</p>

<p>Test pilots and engineers discuss testing the F-35C carrier variant's high angle of attack capabilities at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.</p>

<p>Lockheed Martin dedicated an F-35 Lightning II hangar in Fort Worth, Texas, to the P-38 Lightning and the people who built, flew, and maintained it. WWII veterans from the 49th Fighter Squadron Association attended the ceremony on 4 October 2013.</p>

<p>More than 200 members of the F-35 Integrated Test Force from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, deployed to the USS Wasp [LHD-1] in August 2013 for the second phase of developmental test sea trials for the F-35B.</p>

<p>RAF Sqdn. Ldr. Jim Schofield and Royal Navy Lt. Cdr. Robin Trewinnard-Boyle discuss the F-35B's performance during ship suitability testing onboard the USS Wasp in August 2013.</p>

<p>The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant undergoes shipboard testing aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) off the coast of Virginia in August 2013. The tests are a part of Developmental Test Phase Two for the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant.</p>

<p>The US Marine Corps' first operational F-35B performed its first short takeoff/vertical landing operations at MCAS Yuma, Arizona, on 21 March 2013.</p>

<p>US Air Force test pilot Lt. Col. George Schwartz was at the controls of F-35A AF-1 on 5 June 2013 for the first powered AIM-120 air-to-air missile launch from an F-35. During the test, the missile was released from the F-35’s internal weapon bay. Once clear of the aircraft, the missile’s rocket motor ignited. The flight originated from the Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, California, and the launch occurred over the Point Mugu Sea Test Range off the California coast. This test is the first step toward targeted launches in support of Block 2B software fleet release later this year. The F-35A features four internal weapon stations in two weapon bays.</p>

<p>An F-35B completed the first-ever vertical takeoff, or VTO, on 10 May 2013. VTOs are one of the many capabilities required for the fielding an F-35B aircraft. While not a combat capability, VTOs are required for repositioning of the STOVL in environments where a jet could not perform a short takeoff. In these cases, the jet, with a limited amount of fuel, would execute a VTO to travel a short distance.</p>

<p>F-35 Test Pilot Dave Nelson talks about intentional departure and recovering from stalls during F-35A high angle of attack testing at Edwards AFB. Flight Test Engineer Lea Haubelt explains how the tests help define the F-35 flight control software.</p>

<p>Four F-35A Lightning IIs were officially delivered to the US Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis AFB, Nevada, on 19 March 2013. The four aircraft are assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron of the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group. Official welcoming ceremonies at Nellis marked the handover of the jets to the Air Force. The delivery of the first four operational-coded 5th generation F-35A CTOL fighters to Nellis marks the beginning of operational testing and evaluation at the base.</p>

<p>A time lapse video of the F-35 Center Wing Assembly production line in Marietta, Georgia. The high-tech production line uses orange Automated Guided Vehicles to move assemblies throughout the factory. The center wing assembly is the backbone of the F-35 — wings and fuselages are attached at the final assembly facility in Fort Worth, Texas.</p>

<p>Video highlights from the F-35 Lightning II program in 2012, including production, flight test, and aircraft deliveries.</p>

<p>Members of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards AFB, California, highlight their accomplishments for 2012.</p>

<p>Government F-35 test pilot Vince Caterina explains high angle of attack flight testing, which began at Edwards AFB, California, in late October 2012.</p>

<p>Lockheed Martin test pilot Dave Nelson discusses the importance of the spin chute system and testing it on the ground before beginning high angle of attack flight tests.</p>

<p>The first in-flight weapons release from an F-35A Lightning II was successfully carried out at China Lake, California, during a test flight on 16 October 2012. US Air Force test pilot Maj. Eric Schultz, flying the F-35A called AF-1, released an inert, instrumented 2,000 pound GBU-31 from the aircraft’s left weapons bay over the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Center ranges. The F-35A is designed to carry a payload of up to 18,000 pounds using ten weapon stations. The F-35A features four internal weapon stations located in two internal weapon bays and an additional three external weapon stations per wing if required. During the test, two AIM-9X short range heat-seeking air-to-air missiles were mounted on wing stations.</p>

<p>The first-ever F-35 weapons release test flight was successfully carried out over the Atlantic Test Range near NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, on 8 August 2012. During Flight 224, Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin released an inert 1,000 lb. GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition separation test article while flying at 400 knots at an altitude of 4,200 feet in BF-3, the third F-35B test aircraft.</p>

<p>USMC Lt. Col. Matt Taylor was the pilot for the first night flight of an F-35C. The flight was from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, on 13 June 2012.</p>

<p>Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin flew the first F-35B test flight with external weapons pylons on 22 February 2012. The test measured flying qualities with external pylons, inert AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles and a centerline 25 mm gun pod.</p>

<p>Edwards F-35 flight test highlights for 2011. </p>

<p>The first F-35 Lightning II night flight was completed on 18 January 2012 at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, California. Lockheed Martin test pilot Mark Ward took off at 5:05 pm PST and carried out a series of straight-in approaches in twilight and darkness in the F-35A. The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35's cockpit lighting during the flight. He landed the aircraft (Air Force serial number 07-0744) after sunset at 6:22 pm. The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year.</p>

<p>The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant completed ship suitability testing aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) off the coast of Virginia in October 2011. Combined, F-35B test aircraft BF-2 and BF-4 accomplished seventy-two short takeoffs and seventy-two vertical landings during the three-week testing period.</p>

<p>Two F-35B test aircraft, BF-2 and BF-4, operate from USS<em> Wasp</em> (LHD-1) in October 2011.</p>

<p>F-35B test aircraft completes its first landing aboard the USS Wasp on 3 October 2011.</p>

<p>Navy test pilot Lt. Christopher Tabert took to the sky on 27 July 2011 in an F-35C test aircraft launched by a steam catapult for the first time at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Aircraft carrier catapult launches accelerate the F-35 to takeoff speed with full fuel and ordnance over a short, 300-foot power stroke, transmitting more than 250,000 pounds of pull force through the F-35’s nose gear launch system and structure. The test aircraft, CF-3, arrived from the primary F-35C test and evaluation site, NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, the day before this first launch. This was Flight 8 for CF-3.</p>

<p>F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft CF-2 performing jet blast deflector tests at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. The deflector, located behind the catapults aboard aircraft carriers, diverts high energy exhaust from the engine to prevent damage and injury to other aircraft and personnel located in close proximity. The testing is one portion of the tests required to ensure the F-35C is compatible aboard the aircraft carrier.</p>

<p>Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti was at the controls for the first flight of F-35C CF-2 on 29 April 2011.</p>

<p>Flight test pilots talk about their experiences with the F-35 Lightning II.</p>

<p>The second production model of the F-35 Lightning II, F-35A AF-7, ferried to Edwards AFB, California, on 6 May 2011 from NAS Fort Worth JRB with USAF test pilot Maj. Scott McLaren at the controls. This was the seventh flight for the aircraft.</p>

<p>Compilation of F-35B flight test footage.</p>

<p>F-35 flight test video with clips from NAS Fort Worth JRB in Texas, Edwards AFB in California, and NAS Patuxent River in Maryland.</p>

<p>F-35 flight test music video with clips from NAS Fort Worth JRB in Texas, Edwards AFB in California, and NAS Patuxent River in Maryland.</p>

<p>The second F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jet, BF-2, descends to its first vertical landing on 6 January 2011 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Marine Lt. Col. Fred Schenk piloted the aircraft during the flight, which was the seventy-ninth for BF-2.</p>

<p>The first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant, the US Navy's first stealth fighter, arrived at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, on 6 November 2010 at 2:37 pm EST. The aircraft, piloted by Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson, departed NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 11:31 am EST.</p>

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F-35 Lightning II Videos