Lockheed Martin readies F-35B STOVL JSF for roll-out

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Lockheed Martin readies F-35B STOVL JSF for roll-out
By Graham Warwick
Lockheed Martin will roll out the first short take-off and vertical landing F-35B on 18 December, shortly after having resumed flight testing of the Joint Strike Fighter. The first F-35, aircraft AA-1, returned to flight on 7 December, the same day Lockheed began check-out flights with the CATBird avionics testbed. he first F-35B, aircraft BF-1, is off the assembly-line rolling dolly and on its own gear as Lockheed closes out the last few skins after completing leak testing, says Dan Crowley, executive vice-president and F-35 programme general-manager. The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine and Rolls-Royce lift system have been installed

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