The F-35B Lightning II test team completed wet runway and crosswind testing at the Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, California, in July 2014. The tests cleared the aircraft’s twenty-knot crosswind envelope for conventional takeoffs and landings, short takeoffs, and short landings. The testing, which was completed in thirty-seven missions over a forty-one day period, achieved 114 test points and all directional control and anti-skid wet runway testing. All testing was performed with F-35 B test aircraft BF-4, deployed to Edwards from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. This testing marks an important milestone to enable the US Marine Corps to declare Initial Operational Capability, or IOC, with the F-35B. That certification is expected to come in mid-year 2015.
