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F-35A COMPLETES FIRST IN-FLIGHT MISSILE LAUNCH
Edwards Air Force Base
June 12, 2013

 

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., June 5, 2012 - An F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft completed the first in-flight missile launch of an AIM-120 C5 AAVI (AMRAAM Air Vehicle Instrumented). The flight was conducted by U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. George "Boxer" Schwartz. The aircraft, known as AF-1, launched the missile over the Point Mugu Sea Test Range from the internal weapons bay.

Photo release Lockheed Martin

This is the first launch where the F-35 and AIM-120 demonstrated a successful launch-to-eject communications sequence and fired the rocket motor after launch - paving the way for targeted launches later this year in support of Block 2B fleet release capability.

Recently, the Air Force F-35A variant has seen significant development in training and operations, to include: the beginning of pilot training at Eglin Air Force Base, the delivery of the first operational test aircraft to Edwards and Nellis Air Force Bases, the first operational pilot aerial refueling and the completion of high angle of attack testing.

 

F-35A COMPLETES FIRST IN-FLIGHT MISSILE LAUNCH
U.S. Air Force
June 7, 2013

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., June 7, 2013 - An F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft completed the first in-flight missile launch of an AIM-120 C5 AAVI (AMRAAM Air Vehicle Instrumented) earlier this week. The flight was conducted by U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. George "Boxer" Schwartz. The aircraft, known as AF-1, launched the missile over the Point Mugu Sea Test Range from the internal weapons bay.

This is the first launch where the F-35 and AIM-120 demonstrated a successful launch-to-eject communications sequence and fired the rocket motor after launch - paving the way for targeted launches later this year in support of Block 2B fleet release capability.

 

U.K. Pilot Completes First F-35 Vertical Landing for Royal Air Force
Lockheed Martin
June 4, 2013

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md., June 4, 2013 – Squadron Leader Jim Schofield became the first Royal Air Force pilot to complete a vertical landing of a Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) Lightning II on May 28. Following the flight, Schofield commented on the F-35B’s handling capabilities.

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