F-35 AA-1 retired to live-fire slaughter

Lockheed Martin confirms its original flight test aircraft for the F-35, barely three years old, has been officially retired. The AA-1 flight test article, overweight by 5,000lb compared to the current design, is parked at China Lake Naval Air Station following its 91st sortie. It will soon start a second, unfortunately brief career as a live-fire target, allowing the F-35 to complete a few more test points at the expense of AA-1's rightful place as a museum centerpiece.