F-35C CF-3 Flies

摘要

The final Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II test aircraft, F-35C CF-3, completed its maiden flight at NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, on May 21. The aircraft departed to join the F-35B and F-35C test fleet at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, on June 2. CF-3 will be used in flight trials focusing on mission systems, weapons integration, survivability and carrier suitability testing. Initial carrier suitability testing will be undertaken at Joint Base Lakehurst-McGuire-Dix in New Jersey this year, followed by shipborne trials in 2013. Meanwhile, Lt Col Matt Taylor delivered CF-2 to NAS Patuxent River on May 16 from Fort Worth (further to Second Carrier Variant Lightning II Takes to the Skies, June, pl8). So far, Lockheed Martin has delivered eight F-35s in 2011.