The previous F-35 Flight Test Update concluded with F-35A test aircraft AF-3 completing 500 flight hours on 18 March 2013, making AF-3 the second mission systems test Lightning II to reach this milestone. This fourteenth installment in the series of F-35 flight testing reviews presents a large variety of additional milestones for the F-35 test fleet from a monthly flight record for the F-35 CATBird in March to the completion of the initial carrier trials for the F-35C in November.

31 March 2014: CATBird Sets Monthly Flight Record

The F-35 Cooperative Avionics Test Bed, or CATBird, set a monthly program flight record after completing twenty-four flights and 75.6 flight hours during March 2014.

2 April 2014: Five F-35Bs Fly The Same Day

All five System Design and Development, or SDD, F-35Bs at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, were flown on the same day for the first time. The testing included envelope expansion, loads, high angle of attack, and aerial refueling tests.

2 April 2014: 300 Flights For BF-2

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin was at the controls of BF-2 performing high angle of attack testing for its 300th flight.

4 April 2014: Airborne Link With Typhoons

Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Jon Ohman in F-35B BF-17 completed the first interoperability airborne link with two UK RAF Typhoons. This testing, with Typhoons and other operational platforms, is designed to confirm that the datalink capabilities of the F-35 are interoperable. The messages tested during these flights support a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions.

7 April 2014: 15,000 Flight Hours For F-35 Fleet

The F-35 fleet—including test, training, and operational aircraft—surpassed 15,000 flight hours. Of the total, more than half (8,050 flight hours) were flown by the operational F-35 fleet.

8 April 2014: 400th Vertical Landing For BF-1

BAE test pilot Peter Wilson was at the controls for the 400th vertical landing of BF-1. The landing occurred on Flight 395, a STOVL envelope expansion mission flown from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

14 April 2014: First Wet Runway Test For F-35B

US Marine Corps Maj. Mike Kingen was at the controls of BF-4 for the first wet runway test of an F-35B. The test was conducted at Edwards AFB, California.

14 April 2014: 500 Flight Hours For CF-2

Royal Air Force Sqdn. Ldr. Andy Edgell was at the controls of CF-2 for when the aircraft surpassed 500 total flight hours during a mission from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

18 April 2014: 400 Flights For BF-1

Test pilot Peter Wilson flew Flight 400 of F-35B BF-1 at the F-35 Integrated Test Force at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

22 April 2014: Multiple Crosswind Tests

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin was at the controls of BF-4 Flight 225 for a day of extensive crosswind testing at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, that included three short takeoffs, two slow landings, and two conventional landings. Crosswinds for these tests ranged from nineteen to twenty-five knots.

24 April 2014: F-35B High AOA Without Spin Recovery Chute

BAE test pilot Peter Kosogorin flew F-35B BF-2 on its first high angle of attack flight with the spin recovery chute system removed. The flight was conducted from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

24 April 2014: Thirteen Flights In One Day

The single-day record was set by eleven SDD and two operational test flights at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and Edwards AFB, California.

24 April 2014: Air Data Testing Complete

F-35A air data testing for software blocks 2B and 3F was completed with a 200-foot, 600-knot tower fly-by in test aircraft AF-1 at Edwards AFB. During the previous three years, F-35As AF-1, AF-2, and AF-3 were flown thirty-eight times to collect 226 air data test points. This line of testing involved challenging maneuvers and covered a broad range of flight envelope, from altitudes ranging from 50 to 40,000 feet and speeds ranging from 110 knots to 1.6 Mach, and angles of attack from -10 to +50 degrees. Data collected from the testing allows accurate and reliable air data parameters for the F-35A fleet operations.

26 April 2014: High AOA Test Point Record

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin set a one-day high-angle-of-attack test point record for an F-35B by completing thirty-four high AOA test points on a single flight. The flight was conducted in F-35B BF-2 from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

28 April 2014: AM-2 Matting Certification Starts

Flight test missions to certify that F-35B can be used with AM-2 matting began with BF-1 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. BAE test pilot Peter Wilson performed a series of vertical landings for expeditionary operations for these initial tests. AM-2 matting is a portable metal matting used by the US Marines for rapid deployments of aircraft on rough field conditions. While vertical takeoffs and landings at Patuxent River and other operating locations typically take place on AM-2 matting, these particular tests involve the matting placed on soft soil conditions.

30 April 2014: 16,000 Hours

The F-35 Lightning II aircraft fleet surpassed 16,000 cumulative flight hours. The F-35 SDD test program pilots flew a monthly record high 282 flight hours and 153 flights in April 2014.

1 May 2014: Four-Ship MADL/Fusion

A four-ship Multifunction Advanced Data Link, or MADL, fusion flight (AF-6, AF-7, BF-18, and CF-8) with CATBird, two air targets, a tanker, and multiple ground targets was accomplished; eight total aircraft launched for the mission.

5 May 2014: 700 Vertical Landings

BAE test pilot Peter Wilson flew the 700th vertical landing and second and third vertical takeoffs for the F-35B during AM-2 matting tests at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

6 May 2014: F-35A Flight Sciences Weapon Flight For 2B Software

Air Force Maj. Matt Phillips flew AF-1 on the final flight sciences mission for weapons testing for 2B software. The flight, which involved GBU-31 weapons environment testing, originated from Edwards AFB, California.

6 May 2014: 500 Flights For CATBird

The F-35 Cooperative Avionics Test Bed, or CATBird, completed its 500th flight for the F-35 test program.

8 May: 100 Hours For CF-8

Marine Corps test pilot Maj. Richard Rusnok was at the controls of F-35C CF-8 on a test mission from the F-35 Integrated Test Force at the Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, California, when the aircraft surpassed 100 flight hours.

15 May 2014: Final F-35A Flutter Points

Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson was at the controls of F-35A AF-1, flying from Edwards AFB, California, when the aircraft was used to complete the last F-35A flutter points. The test marked the final speed envelope expansion for the F-35A fleet. The achievement included test points required for both Block 2B and Block 3F software.

23 May: 500 Flight Hours For BF-2

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin was flying a departure resistance test in F-35B BF-2 from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, when the aircraft reached the 500-hour milestone.

27 May 2014: First AIM-120 Live Launch For F-35B

US Air Force test pilot and commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB Lt. Col. Andrew Allen, flying F-35B BF-18, sequentially engaged two targets with AIM-120 missiles. This shot, completed at the Sea Test Range near Naval Base Ventura County, at Point Mugu, California, marked the first dual AIM-120 launch from any F-35 variant and the first live F-35B AIM-120 shot.

27 May 2014: F-35C Maximum Sink Rate

Navy test pilot Lt. Cdr. Michael Burks was at the controls of F-35C CF-3 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, for the first structural survey MK-7 arrestment at the maximum test sink speed of 21.4 feet per second.

11 June: 1,000 Hours For AF-2

Lockheed Martin test pilot Paul Hattendorf was flying an airframe loads envelope expansion mission when the F-35A AF-2 reached the 1,000-hour milestone. AF-2, delivered in May 2010, is primarily flown for aerodynamic loads envelope expansion tests.

16 June 2014: F-35B Wet Runway Testing Completed

Wet runway testing with F-35B BF-4, deployed to Edwards AFB, California, concluded. The tests also cleared the aircraft’s twenty-knot crosswind envelope for conventional takeoffs and landings, short takeoffs, and short landings. The testing, which was completed in thirty-seven missions over a forty-one day period, covered 114 test points and all directional control and anti-skid wet runway testing.

19 June 2014: 500 Flight Hours For CF-1

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin was flying a stores performance test in F-35C CF-1 from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, when the aircraft reached the 500-hour milestone on Flight 294.

24 June 2014: 300 Flights For AF-7

US Air Force test pilot Col. Roderick Cregier was at the controls of AF-7 for its 300th flight, which involved testing of the F-35’s electro optical targeting system. The mission was flown from Edwards AFB, California.

24 June 2014: 100 Flights For BF-18

Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson was at the controls of BF-18 for its 100th flight, which was a two-ship test of the Multifunction Advanced Datalink flown from Edwards AFB, California.

16 July 2014: F-35 Test Fleet Return To Operations

F-35 test fleet returns to operations following a US government stop notice issued on 4 July that suspended operations after an engine fire at Eglin AFB, Florida.

22 July 2014: 100 Flight Hours For CF-5

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin was flying an asymmetric stores test mission when F-35C CF-5 reached the 100-hour milestone on Flight 66.

30 July 2014: 300th Flight For CF-1

Navy test pilot Capt. Justin Carlson was at the controls of CF-1 for its 300th flight, which involved a flying qualities test with full external stores. The mission was flown from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

30 July 2014: F-35B Slow Landings With Loads Completed

BAE test pilot Peter Wilson completed the last test points for slow landings with loads needed for Block 2B software. The test mission, Flight 422 for BF-1, was flown from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

9 August 2014: Mode 4 Formation Testing Completed

F-35B aircraft BF-1 and BF-4 completed Mode 4 formation testing required for Block 2B software capability. In Mode 4 operations, the STOVL Propulsion System is engaged, the lift fan, roll post nozzle, and three-bearing-swivel nozzle are operating, and all propulsion system doors and inlets are open. Flight testing validated the F-35B variant’s ability to operate in this configuration during formation flights, which supports operations around the ship.

11 August 2014: 500 Flight Hours For AF-4

US government test pilot Vince Caterina was flying a test mission involving aerial refueling handling qualities when F-35A AF-4, surpassed 500 flight hours during a mission from Edwards AFB, California.

13 August 2014: 400th Flight For AF-1

Lockheed Martin test pilot Paul Hattendorf was at the controls of AF-1 on its 400th flight, which involved a successful GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition separation test flown from Edwards AFB, California. This was the first GBU-31 Mark-84 separation demonstration from the F-35. Previous GBU-31 separations were with the BLU-109 (Bomb Live Unit) bomb body.

14 August 2014: 300th Flight For CF-2

Lockheed Martin test pilot Elliot Clemence was at the controls of CF-2 for its 300th flight, which occurred from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

14 August 2014: 4,000 Flight Hours For F-35A SDD

F-35A SDD test fleet surpassed 4,000 flight hours.

15 August 2014: F-35B Weapon Seps Completed For Block 2B

Marine Corps test pilot Capt. Mike Kingen was at the controls of BF-3 for the final weapon separation test required for 2B software fleet release for the F-35B. Kingen’s successful launch of an AIM-120 missile over the Atlantic Test Range was the second such launch in two consecutive days. Both flights originated from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

19 August 2014: Multiship Fusion With F-35A And F-35C

AF-7 and CF-8 completed a multiship data fusion flight at the Pacific Test Range. The mission involved five F-16 targets and KC-10 refueling support. The objective was for the two F-35s to locate, fuse, identify, and target five approaching and maneuvering F-16s at different altitudes and speeds.

26 August 2014: 500 Flight Hours For AF-6

Air Force test pilot Maj. Mark Massaro was at the controls of AF-6 on a mission from Edwards AFB, California, when the aircraft surpassed 500 total flight hours.

3 September 2014: First CAS Mission

Lockheed Martin test pilot Mark Ward flew CF-8 from Edwards AFB, California, over Fort Irwin to complete the first F-35 day Mission Effectiveness Close Air Support flight. Fort Irwin is a major training area for the US military forces in the Mojave Desert in California.

4 September 2014: First Night CAS Flight

Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Jon Ohman flying CF-8 and Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson flying AF-7 completed the first night F-35 Mission Effectiveness Close Air Support flight over Fort Irwin, operating in support of ground troops against several ground targets.

9 September 2014: Final Live Fire Test Shot

The F-35 live fire test team completed the final shot on F-35B BG-1, a non-flying full-scale STOVL variant built for static ground tests. The live fire testing began on 1 May 2014 and consisted of a series of fifteen shots directed at various positions on the airframe. The effort was led by Naval Air Systems Command’s Weapons Survivability Laboratory at China Lake, California.

9 September 2014: First Flight With Gen III Helmet

Lockheed Martin test pilot Mark Ward flew the first 3iR4 software and Generation III helmet mounted display during an airworthiness flight in AF-3. The mission was flown from Edwards AFB, California.

10 September 2014: BF-3 400th Flight

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin was at the controls of BF-3 Flight 400, which was a flying qualities test at high angles of attack. The mission was flown from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

19 September 2014: BF-17 100th Flight

Marine Corps test pilot Maj. Richard Rusnok was at the controls of BF-17 for its 100th flight. The mission was flown from Edwards AFB, California.

24 September 2014: BF-5 To Eglin For Climatic Testing

Lockheed Martin test pilot Billie Flynn ferried BF-5 from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, to Eglin AFB, Florida, in preparation for climatic chamber testing.

25 September: Buffet Testing For Block 2B Completed

Lockheed Martin test pilot Paul Hattendorf, flying AF-2 from Edwards AFB, California, completed the last buffet testing test mission required for F-35A Block 2B software.

30 September 2014: Weapon Sep Tests For 2B Software Completed

US Navy test pilot Lt. Cmdr. Theodore Dyckman launched an AIM-120 missile from CF-2 during Flight 302 from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The launch marked the last weapon separation test needed for Block 2B software.

14 October 2014: First F-35B Short Takeoff And Landing In Fort Worth

Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti executed the first F-35B short takeoff and short landing in Fort Worth, Texas, during the second company test flight of BF-38.

16 October 2014: CF-5 Set Record For Sorties In One Day

US Navy test pilot Lt. Cmdr. Theodore Dyckman, flying CF-5, completed fourteen sorties to finish all of the shake, rattle, and roll testing for catapults and arrestments. US Navy test pilot Cmdr. Christian Sewell completed an additional three field carrier landing practice sorties in CF-5 later in the day. The mission count of seventeen set a record for sorties in a day for a single aircraft for the F-35 program.

18 October 2014: First F-35B Hover In Fort Worth

Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti executed the first F-35B hover in Fort Worth, Texas, during the third company test flight of BF-38. Exercising the vertical lift system of the F-35B models becomes part of the acceptance test process with this flight.

20 October 2014: F-35A Loads Testing For Block 2B Software Completed

Air Force test pilot Lt. Col. Mark Massaro was at the controls of AF-2 for the final loads test needed for Block 2B software. The flight took place from Edwards AFB, California.

21 October 2014: First GBU-39 Separation

Lockheed Martin test pilot Mark Ward was at the controls of AF-1 for the first separation test from an F-35 of a GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb. The GBU-39 is a 250-pound precision-guided glide bomb. The test flight originated at Edwards AFB, California.

21 October 2014: CAS Test Flights For 2B Software Complete

Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Jon Ohman flying BF-17 and Air Force test pilot Maj. Logan Lamping flying BF-18 completed a two-ship Mission Effectiveness Close Air Support flight at Fort Irwin. The mission marked the completion of close air support test flights needed for 2B software.

29 October: First Flight With ASRAAM

Lockheed Martin test pilot Billie Flynn was at the controls of BF-2 for an external AIM-132 flutter test. The test marked the first time an F-35 has flown with the AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, or ASRAAM.

3 November 2014: First Carrier Landing

US Navy test pilot Cmdr. Tony Wilson made the first arrested landing of the F-35C Lightning II on an aircraft carrier. Wilson landed F-35C test aircraft CF-3 at 12:18 p.m. local time aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) underway in the Pacific Ocean. Wilson caught the number three arresting wire. The arrested landing is part of initial at-sea developmental testing for the F-35C.

4 November 2014: First Catapult Launches At Sea

US Navy test pilots Cmdr. Tony Wilson Lt. Cmdr. Theodore Dyckman, flying CF-3 and CF-5 respectively, perform the first catapult launches from the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) on the second day of at-sea testing for the F-35C.

14 November 2014: Initial F-35C Sea Trials Completed

The initial sea trials for the F-35C ended with pilots performing 124 arrested landings; 222 touch-and-goes; two bolters, both intentional for test purposes; and 124 catapult launches on thirty-two flights covering 38.6 flight hours.