First F-35 jet for UK makes maiden flight

[lightoftruth]

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (BNS): The first production F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft for UK has made its maiden flight last week.

The short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft, designated BK-1, made its debut flight on April 13, Lockheed Martin announced Monday.

A series of functional flight checks were conducted during the flight that lasted for 45 minutes.

The jet will undergo a series of flight trials before being handed over to the UK Defence Ministry which will then use the 5th Generation fighter for training and operational tests at the Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, beginning later this year, Lockheed said.

BK-1, which was rolled out in November 2011, is the first of three F-35 fighter jets - two F-35Bs and one F-35C - Britain has committed to buy for training and operational tests.

The country has invested around $2 billion for the F-35 programme with over 100 UK firms involved in the project, including BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce.

While a final decision on the total number of F-35s it will acquire is still pending, the UK Government is now reconsidering its decision to buy the F-35C carrier variants of the jets and may switch back to ordering the F-35B STOVL variants as decided originally.

First F-35 jet for UK makes maiden flight - Brahmand.com

 

[PteX]

So... It has finally been completed? If so... They really ought to ship it to Israel since we made all the major upgrades on American jets ever since we started to receive them. Battle testing them and all.

 

[lightoftruth]

So... It has finally been completed?

i dont think so ,flight trials will be started and their is long duration before they start inducting it .

If so... They really ought to ship it to Israel since we made all the major upgrades on American jets ever since we started to receive them. Battle testing them and all.

we have seen few Israeli upgrades, u guys will only make it better.

 

[PteX]

i dont think so ,flight trials will be started and their is long duration before they start inducting it .

we have seen few Israeli upgrades, u guys will only make it better.

Will be the very best 5th generation out there.

 

[lightoftruth]

Will be the very best 5th generation out there.

the best is f-22 ,but with israeli upgrades it will be good competitor to pak fa, j 20 .

 

[PteX]

the best is f-22 ,but with israeli upgrades it will be good competitor to pak fa, j 20 .

Who's to say with these upgrades it won't match the raptor? A lot of adjustments can be made when it is in Israeli hands.

 

[ashokdeiva]

Who's to say with these upgrades it won't match the raptor? A lot of adjustments can be made when it is in Israeli hands.

we admire the Isreali inventions, but to be frank your post above shows over confidence than confidence.

 

[PteX]

we admire the Isreali inventions, but to be frank your post above shows over confidence than confidence.

Perhaps you're right though judging by my army buds, it's not a stretch.
Time will tell.

 

[BronzePlaque]

Cant wait to see them in our arsenal too..I guess Turkey will start to receive them around 2015( or might be 2016)..cough cough over excited cough cough

 

[Mosamania]

Oh the F-35. How I wish it will be our replacement for the Tornadoes we have. 100+ would be nice will do the job perfectly.

Can you even begin to imagine?? A fleet of F-15SAs, Eurofighter Typhoon tranch 3, And F-35s.... Oh what that will do to anyone who dares to call us an enemy.