Hits and misses

The troubled F-35 JSF has hit a number of key milestones in recent weeks, giving its supporters more ammunition in their efforts to fight off those who have threatened the program due to budgetary or performance issues.

Arguably the biggest recent flight test success was the deployment of F-35B test aircraft BF-2 and BF-4 from NAS Patuxent River to the US Navy LHD, USS Wasp operating off the US east coast for a series of short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) trials at sea. The first landing aboard ship by BF-2 marked the beginning of ship suitability testing, known as developmental test 1, for the F-35B. Other milestones to be completed during the tests include verifying basic performance and handling qualities in a flight envelope that approximates that used by fleet pilots during carrier qualification flights.

From reports and videos released at time of writing, both aircraft have successfully been performing multiple launches and recoveries each day – albeit in apparently benign conditions – and had performed space and maintenance fit tests on the ship’s deck and elevators, and within its cavernous hangars.

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