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The first production F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to roll off the assembly line completed two important sets of ground testing in early spring: fuel system checkout and structural coupling. Fuel system checkout, completed 12 March, included filling, weighing, and emptying each internal fuel tank with jet fuel. Structural coupling testing, completed 17 April, consisted of initiating a wide range of specific flight control movements using the aircraft’s onboard systems. Eight different fuel and weapons load configurations were evaluated. The two internal weapons bays on the aircraft were loaded with inert Joint Direct Attack Munitions and air-to-air missiles for the first time. First flight of the F-35 is scheduled for later this year.
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