Edwards AFB News

  • F-35 fires first airborne shots successfully

    F-35A tail number AF-2 became the first F-35 Lightning II aircraft to fire the four-barrel GAU-22/A 25mm Gun system while in flight Oct. 30.Maj. Charles Trickey, 461st Flight Test Squadron F-35 experimental test pilot, was in the cockpit and fired one burst of 30 rounds and two 60-round bursts, each

  • F-35 flight tests continue to push the envelope

    Maj. Matt Hayden and Mr. Alan Dykhoff are part of the team at Edwards who test and verify the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 aircraft performs as advertised.Mr. Dykhoff is the project engineer in charge of landing gear and brake systems and Major Hayden sits in the cockpit of the single-seat,

  • F-35 ITF and Italian Air Force KC-767 'fuel' the way for AR milestone

    Italy's F-35 program achieved two recent milestones with the completion of the first aerial refueling certification between an Italian Air Force KC-767A tanker with an F-35A and the inaugural flight of an Italian-built F-35A."Italy is one of the partner nations on the F-35 program and since we are

  • F-35 ITF preps maintainers for operational test

    When the Joint Strike Fighter Operational Test Team begins testing the F-35 this month, maintenance personnel will be fully self-sufficient and prepared to transition to flight operations. By the time the first aircraft arrives, personnel will have successfully completed all initial training

  • F-35 ITF works towards night, weather certification

    The F-35 Integrated Test Force is wrapping up a series of night flights, which are testing the aircraft's capability when flying in instrument meteorological conditions. It is a necessary step in delivering a core competency to the warfighter - the ability to fly the jet safely when there are no

  • F-35 Joint Strike Fighter completes testing at Edwards

    The prototype F-35 Joint Strike Fighter AA-1 completed an air start test at Edwards on Oct. 23, marking the first time the aircraft arrived here. The testing validated the aircraft's ability to shut down and restart its engine in flight ensuring the aircraft can regain power and be flown safely in

  • F-35 JSF avionics test bed arrives at Edwards

    The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program's Cooperative Avionics Test Bed aircraft landed here March 1 to perform equipment fit checks and verify the operation of Edwards facilities built specifically for the CATB. The CATB is a Boeing 737-300 specially modified to perform mission systems testing for

  • F-35 Lightning II aircraft demonstrates air-to-air combat capability

    In the Point Mugu Sea Test Range airspace off the Central California coast, an F-35B demonstrated the jet's air-to-air combat capability when it sequentially engaged two aerial targets with two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles during a Weapon Delivery Accuracy mission.Test pilot and