JSF spotlights developmental test and evaluation accomplishments at Edwards

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Air Force Flight Test Center opened its gates to the media Aug. 27 to showcase developmental testing and evaluation at Edwards with an up-close look at the Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Test Force.

About a dozen reporters and photographers were escorted to the flightline where they witnessed Lt. Col. George H. Griffiths, 461st Flight Test Squadron commander, land his F-35 Lightning II.

Media representatives were then driven to Hangar 1820 where Colonel Griffiths taxied and parked the 5th generation fighter.

Maj. Gen. David J. Eichhorn, Air Force Flight Test Center commander, addressed the media and talked about how Edwards' 308,000 acres makes the base the ideal place to test the JSF.

"Edwards is a great place to do flight test unencroached and unencumbered," General Eichhorn said. "We are able to attract the best and brightest in flight test out here in order to, as I like to say, 'run as fast as the system under test will allow us to do'."

The general said  the pace with which the flight test center has been proceeding with the F-35 test program is about three times ahead of schedule.

The two F-35s at Edwards, AF-1 and AF-2, had completed 53 sorties and 536 unique test points. The original test plan had scheduled only 17 sorties and 150 test points on the timeline.

"What Congress and decision-makers are looking for in Washington is objective credible data so they know how a program is really doing." That objectivity comes from a level of independence that Edwards enjoys."

After General Eichhorn, Colonel Griffiths talked about the new multi-role aircraft.

"The airplane has a lot of power behind it," Colonel Griffiths said. "It's going to be a great weapon system with the ability to carry two 2,000-pound weapons and a couple of air-to-air missiles in the bay, close it all up and still be stealth, low-observable."

"It's a dream for a pilot to go out and fight with and we're really pleased. Every guy who has flown it really loves it and wishes they were on the schedule every day."

"This is just another great time in Edwards' history," said General Eichhorn. "This goes back to 1933 and 1947; breaking the sound barrier and all the great programs of the past, so this airplane is joining a long line of great work Edwards has done through the years."

Following the comments, the reporters and photographers got to speak one-on-one with General Eichhorn, Doug Pearson, Lockheed Martin representative and former AFFTC commander, Colonel Griffiths and other pilots for the JSF program.