Marine Corps photograph by Cpl. Timothy R. Smithers

An F-35B is prepped for a test flight at Pax River Integrated Test Force in Patuxent River, Md., May 24, 2017. The air station is the testing sight for the F-35’s capabilities. This site will be responsible for the overall design and improvements to the F-35 throughout it’s service history.

F-35 Lightning II testing continued at Pax River Integrated Test Force, Naval Air Station Paxutent River, Md., May 24, 2017.

Test pilots at the station are putting the F-35 through various tests to help improve its fighting capabilities.  These examinations will provide information on its fighting capabilities, weapon capacity and flight performance.

“As we continue to do follow-on modernization we are going to continue to learn about this airplane and make it better,” said Marine Corps Maj. Jon Dirk, F-35 test pilot Patuxent River, F-35 Integrated test Force, Air Test Evaluation Squadron 23.

Several “flight sciences” planes are used during the testing. These models have specific instrumentation that monitor how the F-35 is working during its flight. These devices will measure anything from: engine performance, airflow and how many thousands of pounds of pressure the wing is taking at a seven g-force turn.

“We’re seeking to not only validate the way the airplane works, but actually feed-back information into the design process,” said Dirk.
This information is used not only in development but will be used throughout its projected service life cycle.