First Flight With Ten Weapons
10 January 2014: Lt. Col. Brent Reinhardt was at the controls of F-35A AF-1 Flight 350 for the first test mission flown with ten weapons. The flight, which originated from Edwards AFB, California, was used to evaluate the handling qualities of the F-35A. The weapon load consisted of six 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II bombs (two mounted in the internal weapon bays and four mounted under the wings), two AIM-120 AMRAAMs mounted in the internal weapon bays, and two AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles mounted under the wings.
Photo by Matthew Short
First F-35C Flight With Ten Weapons And Gun Pod
13 January 2014: RAF Sdn. Ldr. Andy Edgell flew F-35C CF-1 for the first test mission of the F-35C with ten weapons and one gun pod. The flight, which originated from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, was used to evaluate the handling qualities of the F-35C with a full weapon load. The load consisted of four 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II bombs and two AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles mounted under the wings and two GBU-32s and two AIM-120 AMRAAMs mounted in the internal weapon bays. A 25mm gun pod was mounted on the external centerline station as well.
Photo by Andy Wolfe
F-35A Clean Wing Testing Completed
15 January 2014: Air Force Maj. Matt Phillips was at the controls of F-35A AF-4 for a 2.6-hour performance and aerial refueling test mission that marked the completion of all the clean wing performance testing for the F-35A flight envelope. The flight occurred at Edwards AFB, California.
Photo by Tom Reynolds
First F-35B High AOA With External Stores
27 January 2014: Marine Corps Lt. Col. Patrick Moran flew the first F-35B high angle of attack test mission with external stores on the F-35B BF-2. The external stores included two AIM-9X sidewinder missiles and weapon pylons on the other four wing stations.
Photo by Andy Wolfe
Mission Systems Monthly Testing Record
31 January 2014: Forty-four flights were completed in January 2014 for the F-35 mission systems test fleet, which set a record for flights in one month. Mission systems aircraft include F-35A AF-3, AF-6, AF-7, BF-5, BF-17, BF-18, and CF-8.
Photo by Chad Bellay
Twelve Flights In One Day
7 February 2014: The System Development and Demonstration Program set a new one-day flight record by completing twelve flights in one day. The prior record was for eleven flights in one day. The aircraft involved included three F-35As, five F-35Bs, and four F-35Cs flying from the F-35 Integrated Test Forces at Edwards AFB, California, and at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.
Photo by Darin Russell
200 Flights For AF-6
7 February 2014: Air Force Maj. Matt Phillips was at the controls of AF-6 for its 200th flight, which involved a sensor fusion mission flown from Edwards AFB, California.
Photo by Darin Russell
First STOVL Formation Flight
11 February 2014: Two F-35Bs flew in close formation for the first time while in short takeoff/vertical landing, or STOVL, mode. 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.
Photo by Michael D. Jackson
First Formation Short Takeoff
12 February 2014: F-35Bs flew in close formation for the first time during takeoffs and landings while in short takeoff/vertical landing, or STOVL, mode. BAE test pilot Peter Wilson flying F-35B BF-1 and Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin flying F-35B BF-5 conducted the tests from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.
Photo by Dane Wiedmann
First AMRAAM Launch At White Sands Missile Range
25 February 2014: Air Force Maj. Andrew Rollins was at the controls of F-35A AF-6 for the first AIM-120 AMRRAM launch from an F-35 over White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Photo by Darin Russell
Longest Flights To Date
25 February 2014: Two F-35 pilots broke the single flight F-35 duration record during the first AMRAAM launch at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Air Force Maj. Mark Massaro flying BF-18 and Air Force Maj. Andrew Rollins flying AF-6 completed the round trip from Edwards AFB to the range in 5.7 hours. The previous duration record was 5.1 hours.
Photo by Darin Russell
4,000 Total Flights For SDD
27 February 2014: System Development and Demonstration Program flight test aircraft surpassed 4,000 total flights.
Photo by Andy Wolfe