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Dallas Morning News
December 16, 2006
Joint Strike Fighter test was a success, Lockheed says
By Victor Godinez, The Dallas Morning News
The F-35 Lightning II – the Joint Strike Fighter – successfully completed its first test flight in Fort Worth on Friday afternoon, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. said.
The jet flew for about 40 minutes with its landing gear down the entire time, reaching a speed of 225 knots (about 260 miles per hour) and an altitude of 15,000 feet.
Lockheed had hoped to briefly raise and lower the gear during the flight, but a minor problem with one sensor led test pilot Jon Beesley to land the plane before he could test the gear.
"The primary objective of a first flight is to take off, make sure the systems work, and then come back safely," Mr. Beesley said after the flight. "We did those, and that's really the majority of the mission right there."
The F-35 program executive officer, Brig. Gen. C.R. Davis, said that Lockheed will soon have about one test flight per week.
"There were very few surprises on this flight, and that's good," he said.
The roughly $275 billion contract to build more than 2,400 planes for the Air Force, Marines and Navy is the largest defense project in U.S. history.
More than 700 additional F-35s are expected to be ordered by other countries.
Lockheed has estimated that it could eventually sell as many as 4,500 of the jets.
The Lightning II is designed to replace several older, specialized aircraft, including the F-16, F/A-18 and A-10.
Shares of parent company Lockheed Martin Corp. lost 21 cents to close at $90.04.
December 16, 2006
Joint Strike Fighter test was a success, Lockheed says
By Victor Godinez, The Dallas Morning News
The F-35 Lightning II – the Joint Strike Fighter – successfully completed its first test flight in Fort Worth on Friday afternoon, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. said.
The jet flew for about 40 minutes with its landing gear down the entire time, reaching a speed of 225 knots (about 260 miles per hour) and an altitude of 15,000 feet.
Lockheed had hoped to briefly raise and lower the gear during the flight, but a minor problem with one sensor led test pilot Jon Beesley to land the plane before he could test the gear.
"The primary objective of a first flight is to take off, make sure the systems work, and then come back safely," Mr. Beesley said after the flight. "We did those, and that's really the majority of the mission right there."
The F-35 program executive officer, Brig. Gen. C.R. Davis, said that Lockheed will soon have about one test flight per week.
"There were very few surprises on this flight, and that's good," he said.
The roughly $275 billion contract to build more than 2,400 planes for the Air Force, Marines and Navy is the largest defense project in U.S. history.
More than 700 additional F-35s are expected to be ordered by other countries.
Lockheed has estimated that it could eventually sell as many as 4,500 of the jets.
The Lightning II is designed to replace several older, specialized aircraft, including the F-16, F/A-18 and A-10.
Shares of parent company Lockheed Martin Corp. lost 21 cents to close at $90.04.