The Marine Corps version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has completed its first ever vertical takeoff, prime contractor Lockheed Martin [LMT] said Monday.
The F-35B short-takeoff and vertical-landing (STOVL) aircraft opened its fan doors and lifted off the ground at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on May 10. The F-35B then transitioned into level flight before performing a vertical landing.
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| The F-35B lift off at Patuxent River, Md. Photo by Lockheed Martin |
The vertical take-off function gives the Marines the ability to reposition the aircraft a short distance when a runway is not available.
The Marines have continued to test the aircraft on land and at sea. In the fall of 2011 an F-35B was sent to the USS Wasp (LSD-1) to carry out a series of short take-off and vertical landings.
The test is another key step in moving forward on a beleaguered program beset with cost overruns and delays. The F-35B is set to return to the Wasp this summer for additional testing, a company spokeswoman said.
Earlier this year, the F-35Bs were grounded following the discovery of a faulty fueldraulic line, which lies in the vectoring propulsion system specific to the STOVL version.
It was later determined the poor crimping on the fueldraulic line was behind the problem, the faulty ones were replaced and the F-35B resumed flight operations shortly before the entire fleet, including Air Force F-35A and Navy F-35C versions, were grounded due to a crack found in a turbine blade in February.
That was determined to be an isolated incident and the F-35s were again cleared to fly.