US Marine Corps F-35Bs headed back to sea in October and November 2016, this time aboard the USS America, for the third phase of developmental test (DT-III) and a proof-of-concept demonstration.
HAVING DECLARED INITIAL operational capability (IOC) in July 2015, the US Marine Corps is busy ticking the necessary boxes in order to deploy its Lockheed Martin F-35Bs into the field. Seven Lightning IIs were embarked for the initial developmental test (DT) work as part of DT-III. Five F-35Bs landed on the Corps’ newest amphibious assault ship, the USS America (LHA 6), on Friday, October 28, as the vessel cruised off the coast of southern California. An additional pair joined them the following day.
These were composed of Integrated Test Force (ITF) F-35Bs BF-01 and BF-05 from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, plus three supplementary jets from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and two fleet aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 ‘Avengers’ at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.
This embarkation was designed to initially test short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) operations in a high sea state and at night. ‘It’s…
