F-35 Stealth Fighter Test Flight Deemed a Success
Pastor Dale Morgan
Dec 16, 12:03 AM EST
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F-35 Stealth Fighter Test Flight Deemed a Success*
By ANGELA K. BROWN
Associated Press Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- The new stealth fighter jet that will replace
an aging fleet of military planes experienced a largely successful first
flight Friday, with only a minor glitch, Lockheed Martin Corp. officials
said.
Jon S. Beesley, chief test pilot for the Joint Strike Fighter, also
known as the F-35, said the plane handled "marvelously," performed
flawlessly and flew better than the simulator. He flew to 15,000 feet,
escorted by three jets that provided safety and took pictures.
"It was a great adventure," he said. "Today really started the opening
for me for the rest of this greatest fighter program in history where
we're going to go forward and develop this great weapons system that
will protect everybody, and that's what it's all about."
Officials initially said the test flight would last an hour; Beesley
flew for 35 minutes.
One of two air data sensors was not operating properly, he said.
Although it did not pose a danger, the procedure called for ending the
flight at that time, preventing completion of the remaining few tests,
including raising the landing gear, officials said.
"Certainly to fly this first flight with the duration of almost 40
minutes and to only have this single warning appear in the pilot's
display related to this sensor is remarkable, and we're really pleased
with the quality of this first jet," said Dan Crowley, executive vice
president and general manager of the Joint Strike Fighter program.
Runway tests that began last week were completed this week. Officials
had been waiting for good weather for the maiden flight, which almost
didn't happen Friday because of fog and wind.
Security was tight Friday at Lockheed's Fort Worth facility, where the
flight took place. But hundreds of cars parked on the side of the road
outside the plant near the runway, many people holding video cameras in
hopes of catching a glimpse of the supersonic jet, as word spread of the
test flight. Many cheered as the plane took off.
Lockheed employees gathered near the runway also applauded, and some
were moved to tears as the gray jet took off, said some officials, who
reported receiving phone calls from other countries as soon as news
spread of the flight.
"I would call this the flight that was heard round the world," said Tom
Burbage, executive vice president for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.
and general manager for the Joint Strike Fighter program integration.
Beesley, who was greeted with roaring cheers as he stepped out of the
cockpit after landing, later said the plane will continue test flights
next week. Brig. Gen. Charles R. Davis, the program executive officer
for the F-35 Lightning II program office in Arlington, Va., said this
jet was the first of 20 planes to be built at Lockheed's Fort Worth
plant that will have test flights there over the next 18 months.
After 10 years of development, Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin is
moving to the early stages of production for what could be thousands of
fighter jets for the American military and eight countries - and
possibly the largest defense contract ever, $275 billion over the next
two decades.
The U.S. plans to use the F-35 to replace aging planes used by the
Marines, Air Force and Navy, including jets like the F-16, the F-18 and
the Harrier jet.
Lockheed and its subcontractors are making three different versions that
will be used by the different branches. The Marine version will be able
to make vertical takeoffs.
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Associated Press writer Stephen Manning contributed to this report from
College Park, Md.