First flight for F-35C keeps Lockheed on target to meet amended goals

摘要

Lockheed Martin's long-delayed F-35 flight-test programme faces a new level of pressure to perform this year, but so far the company is keeping on track.rnThe first flight of an F-35C took place from Fort Worth, Texas on 6 June. With its 22% longer wing, the carrier variant landed at 135kt (250km/h); 15kt slower than the Joint Strike Fighter's conventional take-off and landing version.rnThe milestone event came much later than originally planned, as aircraft CF-1 wasrnrolled out nearly 11 months ago. But under a new schedule approved by the US government earlier this year, its debut is a signrnthat the flight-test programme is roughly adhering to a reduced set of goals.