BF-6, the first F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) production jet for the U.S. Marine Corps, made its inaugural flight on Oct. 25, marking yet another significant milestone in the F-35 program. Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill “Gigs” Gigliotti, led the aircraft through a series of functional checks for the sortie that lasted almost one hour. BF-6 is slated to join the growing fleet of F-35 Lightning II training jets stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. later this year. Photo by Randy ... Read more

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AF-13, a conventional takeoff and landing variant F-35A, departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on Oct. 26 en route to Eglin Air Force Base. The 5th Generation fighter jet, piloted by U.S. Marine Corps pilot, Maj. Joseph Bachmann, touched down on Florida’s Emerald Coast at 11:44 a.m. after a 90-minute ferry flight. AF-13 is the sixth F-35A delivered to the 33d Fighter Wing in 2011. It will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the base’s new F-35 Integrated ... Read more

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