Thought my Marine friends on this board would appreciate this link:
http://www.hill.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123451460
As a retired AF guy - I can say, you're welcome.
Seriously though - this is a real step forward for the F-35B.
http://www.hill.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123451460
quote:
The Ogden Air Logistics Complex completed an F-35B functional check flight here June 18 after the first depot-level modifications were completed on two F-35B STOVLs for the Marine Corps.
Lt. Col. Kevin "Sonar" Hall with 514th Flight Test Squadron - the first depot test pilot in the Air Force qualified in the F-35B - took off from Hill Air Force Base and zoomed to altitude before heading to the Utah Test and Training Range for a functional check.
As he returned to base, Hall converted the versatile aircraft for Short Take Off Vertical Landing operations and performed a "short" landing and a "rolling" take off.
As a retired AF guy - I can say, you're welcome.
Seriously though - this is a real step forward for the F-35B.