NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A test pilot from the U.S. Marine Corps has delivered a second Lockheed Martin-built F-35B Lightning II aircraft ahead of a four-year flight test program.
U.S. company Lockheed Martin announced the successful delivery of its F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing fighter aircraft variant to Marine Corps and Navy authorities as part of the F-35 Lightning II testing program.
The F-35B STOVL stealth fighter aircraft was deliver to the Naval Air Station Patuxent River and marked the second aircraft from the Lockheed Martin-led team, which includes Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems among others.
"Patuxent River is ready to begin the extensive four-year flight test campaign to help field the future of Marine Corps and Navy Aviation," Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager, said in a statement.
"Over the next year, an integrated government/industry test team will ramp up the flight test at Patuxent River for the F-35B STOVL variant and F-35C carrier variant, and at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant."
