Lockheed Martin plans to begin flight testing its X-35B Joint Strike Fighter short take-off and landing (STOVL) concept demonstrator on 19 June at Palmdale, California. For the first test "we will load the aircraft to a thrust-to-weight not greater than one" and run the engine to full power, says programme general manager Tom Burbage. Weight will be reduced for the second "hop", when the X-35 should lift 5ft (1.5m) into the air, and again for the third test, when the aircraft is expected to lift off, hover at 20-50ft, then touch down. Having proved the ability to safely land the aircraft vertically, Lockheed Martin will then begin STOVL flight testing in earnest at Edwards AFB, California, before moving to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, in mid- to late July. Boeing was expected to resume STOVL testing at Patuxent River last week after flying its X-32B from Edwards.
Source: Flight International
