An F-35B Lightning II makes the first vertical landing on a flight deck at sea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), Oct. 3, 2011. The F-35B is the Marine Corps variant of the Joint Strike Fighter and is designed for short takeoff and vertical landing on Navy amphibious ships. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Seaman Natasha R. Chalk F-35B Lightning II aircraft BF-2 in the break, with USS Wasp (LHD 1) in the background as it approaches for its first vertical landing at sea. "This test was planned to happen on 3 October back in early spring of this year and the team delivered on schedule," said F-35 Program Executive Officer Vice Admiral David Venlet. U.S. Navy photo by Andy Wolfe courtesy of Lockheed Martin BF-2 slides starboard over the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) before beginning its vertical descent. The F-35B is designed to make short takeoff and vertical landing on Navy amphibious ships a much easier task for the pilot than performing the same evolutions in a Harrier. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Seaman Natasha R. Chalk A close look at the F-35B Lightning II as it prepares to make the first vertical landing on a flight deck at sea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). The F-35B represents, for the Marine Corps and partner nations, a quantum leap in capability over the Harrier in the shape of a shipboard, stealthy, supersonic STOVL strike fighter. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Seaman Natasha R. Chalk F-35B Lightning II aircraft BF-2 makes the first vertical landing on a flight deck at sea aboard the venerable USS Wasp (LHD 1). Hopefully the sight of F-35Bs landing aboard amphibious assault ships will become commonplace. U.S. Navy photo by Andy Wolfe courtesy of Lockheed Martin F-35B BF-2 about to touch down aboard USS Wasp. Lockheed Martin photo by Michael D. Jackson F-35B aircraft BF-2 touches down aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1) for the first time. "It was exactly like we predicted," Marine Corps pilot Lt. Col. Fred Schenk said in describing his historic landing. Lockheed Martin photo by Michael D. Jackson F-35B BF-2 is directed from its landing spot aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) after its first shipboard landing. The "USS Wasp" painted on the F-35B's vertical stabilizer symbolizes the hope that the STOVL stealth fighter represents the shape of things to come aboard Navy amphibious assault ships. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Seaman Natasha R. Chalk F-35B Lightning II BF-2 is secured in the hangar bay aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp after its first vertical landing, in anticipation of the next day's flight testing. The aircraft was undergoing testing aboard Wasp. U.S. Navy photo By Seaman Andrew Rivard Chief Petty Officer Kristopher Smith gives the thumbs up for pilot Lt. Col. Fred Schenk to lift an F-35B Lightning II off the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp. U.S. Navy photo By Seaman Andrew Rivard Lt. Col. Fred Schenk lifts an F-35B Lightning II off the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp during the second day of shipboard testing. U.S. Navy photo By Seaman Andrew Rivard