|
 The X-35B engaged its short takeoff/vertical landing system and made a supersonic dash in the same flight on 9 July near Edwards AFB. Pilot Simon Hargreaves took off, climbed to 9,000 feet, and successfully engaged the shaft-driven lift fan propulsion system at 180 knots. He then accelerated to an indicated Mach 1.08, marking the first time a JSF demonstrator has achieved a STOVL mode conversion and sustained supersonic flight in a single sortie. The test marked the X-35B’s first in-flight conversion to STOVL mode as well. |
