Lockheed Martin photograph by Andy Wolfe
For the first time, two Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II carrier variant test aircraft refueled together with a Lockheed Martin KC-130 Hercules in the sky above Patuxent River, Md. recently. The CV aircraft, known as CF-1 and CF-2, completed the milestone as part of an F-35 flight test program that will accomplish more than 1,000 flights in 2013. Later this year, Eglin AFB, Fla., will receive its first CV aircraft joining the F-35 pilot and maintainer training program there.
another stupid milestone to add to the cost of the F35.
So the Navy has to contract Lockheed to fly two planes at the same time and stop for gas.
When does it end? Never.
Lockheed has not figured out yet that if they deliver an airplane, they can go on to design and build a new one. Maybe it’s more profitable to keep building the same one forever.
Meanwhile, outside of the US…