CTOL – The Aviationist

Photo: F-35’s first in-flight weapon release (of a huge 2,000 pound GBU-31 JDAM)

October 17, 2012 David Cenciotti 1

On Oct. 16, a conventional take off and landing (CTOL) version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, completed the first weapon drop, releasing a huge 2,000 pound GBU-31 BLU-109 warhead Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). […]

Photo: F-35B with weapons bay doors open

March 14, 2012 David Cenciotti 0

As flight testing continues, Lockheed Martin released new images of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. After the F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing) with external stores, and the F-35 B flying for the first […]

Never seen before F-35's centerline gun pod unveiled

February 23, 2012 David Cenciotti 6

This image was posted on the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) few hours after I published the F-35 progress report with all the 2012’s updates. On Feb. 22, six days after the first F-35A CTOL […]

F-35 progress report. The year so far in review.

February 23, 2012 David Cenciotti 2

Update Feb. 23 22.47 GMT Lockheed Martin has just released a media update that provides some interesting figures about the F-35 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) flight test plan. The press release traces the history […]

Photo: Lockheed Martin F-35's first mission with external weapons

February 20, 2012 David Cenciotti 0

On Feb. 16, 2012, an F-35A aircraft from Edwards AFB, California, flew for the first time with external weapons. Although no weapons were delivered during the sortie, the payload of the Joint Strike Fighter’s Conventional […]