..:: India Strategic ::. Military Aviation: F-35A Executes First Night Flight

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Editorial

F-35A Executes First Night Flight

Published: January 2012

FORT WORTH, Texas. The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program was completed on Jan. 19, 2012 in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, launched at 5:05 p.m. PST and landed after sunset at 6:22 p.m.

Ward had high praise for the cockpit lighting, calling it “the best he’s ever seen.” AF-6’s flight, which consisted of a series of straight in approaches in twilight and darkness, clears the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LIsv9LJPfU&feature=player_embedded