Recent ship trials for the Lockheed Martin F-35B onboard the USS Wasp [LHD-1] underscored the fifth-generation fighter’s unique capabiliti...
Recent ship trials for the Lockheed Martin F-35B onboard the USS Wasp [LHD-1] underscored the fifth-generation fighter’s unique capabilities and operational utility according to Marines and sailors alike. During the 18-day long ship trials, two F-35Bs conducted a series of tests to determine the aircraft’s suitability for sea-based operations. The aircraft completed 95 vertical landings, 19 of which were conducted at night, and 94 short takeoffs. The ship trials, known as Developmental Test-II, were a key milestone on the Marine Corps’ path to Initial Operating Capability which is scheduled for 2015. “The fact that the Harrier was not fly by wire at all, there was nothing in between me and the flight controls,” said Marine Corps Maj. Michael Rountree, an F-35 test pilot. “So, I could do things in the Harrier that would very specifically get me killed if I did them incorrectly. Whereas in this airplane there is a level of protection between me and those flight control surfaces. So in a mission – you know up and away from the ship – that’s going to allow me more time to think about the tactical picture, thinking about how I’m going to support the Marines on the ground.”
