Jan. 7, 2019 461st FLTS pilot makes history A routine F-35 flight test mission marked a significant event in Air Force history at Edwards Air Force Base, Dec. 14. Maj. Rachael Winiecki, 461st Flight Test Squadron, took off that morning in her F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and was later greeted by members of the squadron after she completed the
Dec. 19, 2018 Joining forces: Test team completes fourth Orange Flag of 2018 In the skies above California, an F-35 and F-16 from Edwards Air Force Base are joined by an F-15E and F-22 from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, along with a Navy F-18 from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 out of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake,
Dec. 11, 2018 31st TES begins F-35 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation The 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron kicked off the Defense Department’s F-35 Lightning II Initial Operational Test and Evaluation with a large force employment sortie from Edwards AFB, California, Dec. 5.
Oct. 5, 2018 New tech to ease F-35A flight line maintenance HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Maintainers on Hill’s flight line are beginning to utilize new high-tech, hand-held tablets to work on the F-35A, America’s most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft.“I am passionate about my job and I want to do it well. These tablets are going to help me do that,” said
Aug. 15, 2018 388th Fighter Wing standing up final F-35A aircraft maintenance unit HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- The 388th Fighter Wing recently began standing up the last of its aircraft maintenance units, a big step toward receiving the full complement of F-35A Lightning IIs by the end of 2019. The first operational F-35s landed at Hill Air Force Base in October 2015. Since then,
July 17, 2018 388th Maintenance Group eying future time, cost savings with 3-D printing HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah, -- Inside a simple-looking building just off of Hill’s flight line, Airmen are tinkering with advanced technology to bring the future of cost-effective maintenance to America’s most advanced fighter aircraft. The 388th Maintenance Group’s Air Force Repair and Enhancement
April 12, 2018 F-35 completes most comprehensive flight test program in aviation history The F-35 Integrated Test Force, based at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, has completed more than 65,000 test points, 9,200 test flights, and six major test aircraft detachments on board L-class and Nimitz class carriers on both U.S. coasts.
Feb. 2, 2017 JSF pilot ensemble designed to keep out chemical, biological agents After several tests during the past six months to contaminate and decontaminate an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with simulated chemical and biological agents, the 461st Flight Test Squadron has now moved forward to testing a suit ensemble designed to protect the pilot from those threats. “Over a
Jan. 19, 2017 Edwards test pilot first to reach 1,000 flight hours in Joint Strike Fighter Lockheed Martin test pilot David "Doc" Nelson became the first pilot to achieve 1,000 flight hours in the F-35 during a test sortie Jan. 6, 2017. He achieved the milestone during a 4.5-hour flight in AF-03, one of the 461st Flight Test Squadron’s Joint Strike Fighters used for developmental test
Jan. 13, 2017 Edwards AFB reduces cost for fire suppression test Members of the F-35 Integrated Test Force developed a new funnel system that captures the foam or water deluge during required hangar fire-suppression system tests, saving $79,750 and several days of delay, which can be critically important for test programs.