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The X-35C crossed a milestone in carrier-suitability testing on its fiftieth flight with Lt. Cdr. Greg Fenton at the controls and logged more than 100 field carrier landing practice tests. FCLPs are a critical component of carrier-suitability testing. During an FCLP, the pilot shoots the landing approach exactly as he would on an aircraft carrier, guided to touchdown by a Fresnel lens and a landing signal officer. The pilot stays on the glide slope — the path to touch down — by focusing on the Fresnel lens display and by keeping a single yellow light, or “ball,” properly aligned between two horizontal rows of green lights. |
