F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Lightning Strikes

By Steven Hoarn - September 1, 2011

F-35A aircraft AF-7 on its ferry flight to Edwards AFB. The unique characteristics of stealth shaping can be seen well in this photo, particularly around the nose and inlets. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is producing three different variant aircraft for three different services. Lockheed Martin photo by Matt Short

F-35B aircraft BF-1 with landing gear and three-position nozzle down and all doors open. The roll-post doors are open outboard of the main gear doors. The F-35B will add stealthy, supersonic, fifth-generation capabilities to the proven STOVL advantages the Marine Corps has enjoyed with its Harriers. Lockheed Martin photo by Senior Flight Test Photographer Phaedra Loftis

While each of the F-35 variants has unique features, the increased wing and tail planform area of the F-35C is easily recognizable when compared with the other two aircraft. Lockheed Martin photo David Drais

An F-35A and F-22A in formation. The F-35 and F-22 are the only two fifth-generation aircraft in production today. Lockheed Martin photo by Darin Russell

A pair of F-35Bs fly in formation during testing at Patuxent River NAS, Md. The STOVL B model has a somewhat humpbacked shape seen from some angles due to the LiftFan and its main inlet door, sometimes called the "'57 Chevy hood," located just behind the cockpit. Lockheed Martin photo by Andy Wolfe

The first flight of F-35C aircraft CF-2 on April 29, 2011, flown by Lockheed Martin pilot Bill "Gigs" Gigliotti. While the F-35C has to carry the extra weight of a beefed-up structure and a tailhook as well as significantly larger wings and empennage for the carrier landing environment, it also can carry more fuel, giving it the longest range of all the JSF variants. Lockheed Martin photo by Liz Kaszynski

A spectacular photo of F-35B BF-1 making a short takeoff (STO) on its 111th flight, piloted by David "Doc" Nelson. Lockheed Martin photo by Andy Wolfe

DOD's first F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) soars past the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline with two F-16 Fighting Falcon chase aircraft before landing at its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14, 2011. Its pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th Fighter Squadron, was the first Air Force qualified JSF pilot. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago

The business end of an F-35C sitting on the catapult at Lakehurst, N.J. Note the large canopy, the clear panes of the Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS) below the nose, and the small size of the radome. That's a lot of radar packed into a small space. Lockheed Martin photo by Senior Flight Test Photographer Andy Wolfe

Six of the F-35s undergoing flight test at Edwards AFB, Calif.: AF-1, AF-2, AF-3, AF-4, AF-6 and AF-7. Lockheed Martin photo by Paul Weatherman

F-35B airframe BF-4 shown during flight 14. STOVL capability allows the F-35B to go places and do things normal aircraft cannot. Lockheed Martin photo by Liz Goettee

The F-35 Lightning II known as AF-7 arrives at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on May 6, 2011 to begin its flight testing program. Flown by Maj. Scott "Shark" McLaren, U.S. Air Force pilot with the 461st FLTS at Edwards AFB, Calif. Lockheed Martin photo by Darin Russell

An F-35B conducts a flight test. The F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a vital capability to the Marine Corps, but also to several friendly and partner nations now operating small aircraft carriers with Harriers. Lockheed Martin photo by Andy Wolfe

F-35C aircraft CF-3 undergoing catapult launch testing Aug. 19, 2011 at Lakehurst, N.J. The historic first catapult launch took place on July 27, 2011, and today jet blast deflector (JBD) testing is also complete. Lockheed Martin photo by Senior Flight Test Photographer Andy Wolfe

F-35B airframe BF-4 shown during flight 46, undertaking short takeoffs and hovering from the runaway. Unlike the legacy Harrier's direct lift system, the F-35B uses a three-position rear nozzle with hot jet exhaust, a cool-air LiftFan system clutched off the front of the engine, and two roll-posts to provide lift and maneuvering power in the STOVL/VTOL modes. Lockheed Martin photo by Phaedra Loftis

Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann, of the 33rd Operations Group, brings the second F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter down the taxiway to its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 20, 2011. Bachmann was the first Marine pilot to be JSF certified. Aircraft AF-8 is the flagship for the 58th Fighter Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.

The first F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to arrive at the 33rd Fighter Wing was on display during the aircraft's official rollout ceremony Aug. 26, 2011 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.

This gallery covers all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and shows the latest U.S. warplane in various phases of its testing as it gets ready to become operational. The F-35A, -B, and -C will give the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy unique capabilities that will ensure continued dominance of battlefield airspace for years to come. After a long, sometimes difficult period of development to produce three variants of one aircraft to serve different needs in three different services, the flight testing program has accelerated. According to Lockheed Martin, in 2011, as of July 26:

F-35A conventional take off and landing (CTOL) jets have flown 250 times.
F-35B short take off/ vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft have completed 187 flights.
F-35C carrier variant (CV) jets have flown 81 times.
From the start of flight testing in December 2006 through July 25, 2011, F-35s flew 1,065 times, including the production-model flights and AA-1, the original flight test aircraft.

Perhaps lightning has struck after all for the program and successes will only continue to build in the future.