Assembly of the first F-35C, the carrier-based variant of the Lightning II fighter, is complete and first flight is expected by mid 2010. The C-model, third of three F-35 variants to roll out of the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas, is the US Navy’s first stealth fighter. The first F-35C, known as CF-1, is the ninth F-35 test aircraft to be built.
After several initial airworthiness flights at Fort Worth, the aircraft will be delivered to the US Navy’s test center at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The F-35C has an eight-foot larger wingspan (total 43 feet) and a greater wing area (total 668 square feet) than both the F-35B and conventional takeoff and landing F-35A.
The larger wings give the F-35C a greater combat radius (more than 600 nautical miles) and range (more than 1,200 nautical miles) than the other two variants. The wingtips on the F-35C fold up vertically to reduce the aircraft’s footprint on the carrier.
This variant also features a strengthened keel and beefed-up landing gear to withstand the stress of carrier landings and takeoffs. The F-35C can carry more than 18,000 pounds of ordnance in both internal weapon bays and underwing pylons.
