F-35 Flight Test Update 13

10 January 2014: Lt. Col. Brent Reinhardt was at the controls of F-35A AF-1 Flight 350 for the first test mission flown with ten weapons. The flight, which originated from Edwards AFB, California, was used to evaluate the handling qualities of the F-35A. The weapon load consisted of six 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II bombs (two mounted in the internal weapon bays and four mounted under the wings), two AIM-120 AMRAAMs mounted in the internal weapon bays, and two AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles mounted under the wings. 

13 January 2014: RAF Sdn. Ldr. Andy Edgell flew F-35C CF-1 for the first test mission of the F-35C with ten weapons and one gun pod. The flight, which originated from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, was used to evaluate the handling qualities of the F-35C with a full weapon load. The load consisted of four 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II bombs and two AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles mounted under the wings and two GBU-32s and two AIM-120 AMRAAMs mounted in the internal weapon bays. A 25mm gun pod was mounted on the external centerline station as well.

15 January 2014: Air Force Maj. Matt Phillips was at the controls of F-35A AF-4 for a 2.6-hour performance and aerial refueling test mission that marked the completion of all the clean wing performance testing for the F-35A flight envelope. The flight occurred at Edwards AFB, California.

27 January 2014: Marine Corps Lt. Col. Patrick Moran flew the first F-35B high angle of attack test mission with external stores on the F-35B BF-2. The external stores included two AIM-9X sidewinder missiles and weapon pylons on the other four wing stations.

31 January 2014: Forty-four flights were completed in January 2014 for the F-35 mission systems test fleet, which set a record for flights in one month. Mission systems aircraft include F-35A AF-3, AF-6, AF-7, BF-5, BF-17, BF-18, and CF-8.

7 February 2014: The System Development and Demonstration Program set a new one-day flight record by completing twelve flights in one day. The prior record was for eleven flights in one day. The aircraft involved included three F-35As, five F-35Bs, and four F-35Cs flying from the F-35 Integrated Test Forces at Edwards AFB, California, and at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

7 February 2014: Air Force Maj. Matt Phillips was at the controls of AF-6 for its 200th flight, which involved a sensor fusion mission flown from Edwards AFB, California.

11 February 2014: Two F-35Bs flew in close formation for the first time while in short takeoff/vertical landing, or STOVL, mode. BAE test pilot Peter Wilson flying F-35B BF-1 and Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin flying F-35B BF-5 conducted the mission from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The mission was used to evaluate the effects the aircraft had on one another while in STOVL mode to ensure F-35Bs can perform safely in formation while flying in an operational environment.

12 February 2014: F-35Bs flew in close formation for the first time during takeoffs and landings while in short takeoff/vertical landing, or STOVL, mode. BAE test pilot Peter Wilson flying F-35B BF-1 and Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin flying F-35B BF-5 conducted the tests from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

25 February 2014: Air Force Maj. Andrew Rollins was at the controls of F-35A AF-6 for the first AIM-120 AMRRAM launch from an F-35 over White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

25 February 2014: Two F-35 pilots broke the single flight F-35 duration record during the first AMRAAM launch at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Air Force Maj. Mark Massaro flying BF-18 and Air Force Maj. Andrew Rollins flying AF-6 completed the round trip from Edwards AFB to the range in 5.7 hours. The previous duration record was 5.1 hours.

27 February 2014: System Development and Demonstration Program flight test aircraft surpassed 4,000 total flights.