Stovl

U.S. Marines pilot a KC-130J Hercules Aerial Refueling Tanker during Exercise Valiant Shield at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sep 18, 2018. Valiant Shield is a biennial, U.S. only, field training exercise (FTX More

General Dynamics E-7 Full-scale STOVL fighter model fabrication at Ames Model Shop

E-7 STOVL fighter model testing in Ames 40x80ft Subsonic wind tunnel. Investigating Supersonic Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) technology.

The F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 performed the first vertical landing (VL) of an F-35B short take-off/vertical-landing (STOVL) variant wi More

13P00405_22 – Aircraft BF-01 from the F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 completed a Vertical Landing (VL) aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1) on Au More

An F-35 Lightning II aircraft sits on the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) Aug. 27, 2013. The ship was underway in support of F-35B Lightning II Developmental Testing Phase II, wh More

A Marine F-35B joint strike fighter makes an approach to the runway during the first short take-off and vertical landing mission at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 25. The milestone training mission was flown More

An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron 211 sits idle on Auxiliary Landing Field 2 during simulated aircraft carrier vertical landing and launching operations at the ranges of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma More

Audience members watch as an F-35B Lightning II taxis down the runway May 17, before takeoff during the Joint Strike Fighter demonstration at the 2014 MCAS Cherry Point Air show. This year's air show, "Inspirat More

The first F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing was performed aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Aug. 1. The landing was executed by Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadr More

An F-35B is drogue refueled by a KC-135 during an evening flight test August 2014 near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Teams from Pax River and Edwards Air Force Base, California, completed testing More

An F-35B Lightning II short take-off/vertical-landing (STOVL) variant underwent Solar Array Lighting Test at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base. With 13 countries currently involved in the More

15P000037_28 - In March, 2015, an F-35B Lightning II short take-off/vertical-landing (STOVL) variant completed climatic testing at the 96th Test Wing's McKinley Climatic Laboratory (MCL) at Eglin Air Force Base More

Maintenance is performed on an F-35B Lightning II on the flight deck of USS Wasp (LHD-1) during night operations, a key component of the Marine Corps’ F-35B operational test May 22. OT-1, scheduled from May 18 More

An AV-8B Harrier jet prepares for short takeoff and vertical landings aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), June 9, 2015. The aircraft are with Marine Attack Squadron 311, currently assigned to 31st Marine E More

The F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 conducted the first weapons separation test of the UK’s Paveway IV precision-guided bomb from an F-35B Lightni More

A Marine Corps F-35B STOVL Joint Strike Fighter aircraft takes off at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, June 18, 2015. The aircraft was undergoing a functional check flight following modifications at the Ogden Air Log More

The Pax River ITF conducts the first-ever ski jump of an F-35 Lightning II during flight 298 of aircraft BF-04 aboard NAS Patuxent River June 19, 2015. The multi-phase ski jump tests will determine the aircraft More

The joint U.S.-U.K. Pax River ITF test team successfully launched an F-35B Lightning II multi-role Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant from a land-based ski jump aboard NAS Patuxent River June 19 More

The F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) performed an AIM-120 weapon separation test during flight 467 of aircraft BF-03 on June 23. BF-03 is an F-35B multi-role Short Takeoff and Vertical La More

The joint U.S.-U.K. test team from the F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) conducted a second ski jump launch of the F-35B Lightning II multi-role Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) More

During the 300th flight of aircraft BF-04, the F-35B Lightning II Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the fifth generation stealth fighter performs one of its standard vertical landings aboard More

A test pilot assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 flies an F-35B Lightning II during an Asymmetric Flying Qualities test. Aircraft BF-03, a multi-role Short Takeoff and Vertica More

The joint U.S.-U.K. test team from the F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) conducted internal Paveway IV weapons environment testing during flight 406 of aircraft BF-02 on July 14. The test, More

Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan "Dog" Canin pilots BF-02, an F-35B Lightning II aircraft from the Pax River Integrated Test Force, during weapons environmental testing over the Eastern Shore of Maryland on July More

An F-35B Lightning II from the Pax River Integrated Test Force conducts weapons environmental testing along the Atlantic Test Range on July 22, 2015. The F-35B is a short take-off/vertical-landing (STOVL) aircr More

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) conducts an aerial refuel in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) 1-16 near Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 1 More

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) conducts a day and night Short Takeoff Vertical Landing (STOVL) with the F-35B Lightning II at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., on May 3, 201 More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 28, 2016) An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft from Air Test & Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland launches from the flight deck of a More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 07, 2016) An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft launches from the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During the third and final F-35B developmental More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 7, 2016) — An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft prepares for landing on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During the third and final F-35B dev More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 7, 2016) — Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Andrew “Gary” Edgell, U.K. test pilot meticulously inspects his F-35B Lightning II aircraft during preflight. On the F-35B’s developmental test pha More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 7, 2016) — Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Andrew “Gary” Edgell, U.K. test pilot meticulously inspects his F-35B Lightning II aircraft during preflight. On the F-35B’s developmental test pha More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 07, 2016) An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft prepares for landing on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During the third and final F-35B deve More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 7, 2016) — U.S. Marine Corps Maj. John “IKE” Dirk, F-35B Lightning II developmental test phase (DT-III) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and F-35 Lightning II test pilot pre-flights an F-35B Lightnin More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 12, 2016) An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft takes off from the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During the third and fi More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 12, 2016) An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft prepares for landing on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During the third and final F-35B deve More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 12, 2016) An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft is signaled to take off from the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During th More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2016) Ordnance is prepared for an F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). This event marked the first live More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2016) Ordnance is prepared for an F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). This event marked the first live More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2016) An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft prepares for landing on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During the third and final F-35B deve More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2016) Ordnance is loaded into an F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). This event marked the first live o More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2016) Ordnance is prepared for an F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). This event marked the first live More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2016) Sailors prepare an F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft prepares for flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2016) An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft prepares for landing on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During the third and final F-35B deve More

Navy Rear Adm. Mathias Winter, the Deputy Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office was promoted to Vice Admiral on May 24, 2017. Winter later assumed responsibility as the Progra More

An AV-8B Harrier short take off-vertical landing jet taxis after landing aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during deck qualifications while underway in the Pacific Ocean, June 14, 2017. Marine Attack Squa More

A Marine aviator with Marine Attack Squadron 311 sits in the cockpit of an AV-8B Harrier short take off-vertical landing jet during deck qualifications aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) while underway in More

The Marine Corps' F-35 variant makes a vertical landing Jan. 16 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina, during sloped surface vertical landing testing. With the sloped surface tests, the More

An Italian F-35B, BL-1, arrived at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, after ferry from Italy, Jan. 31, 2018. This is the first Italian F-35 "B" variant.

Dan Levin, F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, pilots BF-3 on its 691st flight for a flutter and buffet test mission on Feb. 1 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River with external weapons. This flight, shown wit More

Dan Levin, F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, pilots BF-2 during one of the last sloped landing pad flight tests Feb. 8 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina. The test flight was flow More

Dan Levin, F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, pilots BF-2 during one of the last sloped landing pad flight tests Feb. 9 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina. The test flight was flow More

Royal Air Force Sqn Ldr Andrew "Gary" Edgell, test pilot at the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, performs a ski jump Aug. 13, 2018, at NAS Patuxent River with an F-35B test jet as part of the workups to pr More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Lippert, F-35 Pax River ITF test pilot, completes an asymmetric ski jump at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, Aug. 16, 2018, as part of the Queen Elizabeth workups in pr More

Royal Navy Cmdr. Nathan Gray, F-35 Pax River ITF test pilot, conducts short take offs and vertical landings with an F-35B on Aug. 23, 2018, at NAS Patuxent River as part of the workups for the First of Class Fl More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Lippert and Peter Wilson, F-35 test pilots at the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF), conduct night field carrier landing practices Aug. 30, 2018, at NAS Patuxent River in More

Royal Navy Cmdr. Nathan Gray, test pilot with the F-35 Integrated Test Force at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, gives the thumbs up after making the first ever F-35B Lightning II jet vertical landing onboard HMS More

180925-N-ZZ999-010 NORTH ATLANTIC (Sept. 25, 2018) An F-35B Lightning II fighter jet aboard the Royal navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08). (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of the Royal navy by LPhot Kyle H More

F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force test pilots Peter Wilson and Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Andy Edgell, First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing) lead test pilot, continue FOCFT (FW) developmental test f More

F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force test pilots Peter Wilson and Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Andy Edgell, First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing) lead test pilot, continue developmental test flights with More

F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force test pilots, U.S. Marine Corps Michael Lippert and Royal Navy Nathan Gray, continue First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing) developmental test flights with BF-4 and BF-5, More

F-35 Lightning fighter jets have conducted their first night flying trials off the United Kingdom’s largest warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth. The aircraft carrier, which first landed F-35 Lightning jets on board la More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Lippert, test pilot with the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, continues First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing) developmental test flights aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth on Sep More

F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force test pilots, Royal Navy Commander Nathan Gray and Peter Wilson, conduct F-35B flight tests aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth during the First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing) on More

F-35B flight operations Oct. 8 during First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing).

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Lippert, test pilot with the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, takes off from HMS Queen Elizabeth with the first Paveway II payload Oct. 9, 2018. The first bombs to be dropped More

Pax ITF returns to HMS Queen Elizabeth for DT-2, week 1

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN -- F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force pilots Peter Wilson and Marine Corps Maj. Michael Lippert land aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), Nov. 1, 2018, to start the second phase of first of More

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN -- The F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force is testing aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first of class flight trials (fixed wing) to help the UK Ministry of Defence reach initial oper More

Pax ITF returns to HMS Queen Elizabeth for DT-2, week 2

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN -- The F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force is testing aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth for phase two of the first of class flight trials (fixed wing). Phase two tests include external stores More

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN--The first aft-facing vertical landing made by a fast jet onto a Queen Elizabeth Class carrier was achieved on Nov. 16, 2018, during the first of class flight trials (fixed wing)

The F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force carried out phase two of the first of class flight trials (fixed wing) aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. Test events included external stores, minimum performance short-takeof More

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. James Morris, a fixed-wing aircraft mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, and Lt. Col. Richard Rusnok, commanding officer of VMFA-121, conduct pre-flight checks during More

A Marine F-35B joint strike fighter makes an approach to the runway during the first short take-off and vertical landing mission at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 25. The milestone training mission was flown More

The first F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing was performed aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Aug. 1. The landing was executed by Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadr More

Lance Cpl. Zachary McCarty, an avionics technician from Training and Evaluation Squadron 22, reconnects hardware in an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter after maintenance aboard the USS Wasp, May 24, 2015 More

A plane captain looks over an AV-8B Harrier jet is prepped for short takeoff and vertical landings aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), June 9, 2015. The aircraft are with Marine Attack Squadron 311, curren More

A Marine Corps F-35B STOVL Joint Strike Fighter aircraft completes its first-ever check flight at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, June 18, 2015. The aircraft was undergoing a functional check flight following modifi More

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) conduct a day and night Short Takeoff Vertical Landing (STOVL) with the F-35B Lightning II at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., on May 3, 2016 More

161028-N-SS390-002 PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 28, 2016) An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft from Air Test & Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland prepares to per More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 7, 2016) — An F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft prepares for landing on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During the third and final F-35B dev More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 7, 2016) — Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Andrew “Gary” Edgell, U.K. test pilot meticulously inspects his F-35B Lightning II aircraft during preflight. On the F-35B’s developmental test pha More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 7, 2016) — Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Andrew “Gary” Edgell, U.K. test pilot meticulously inspects his F-35B Lightning II aircraft during preflight. On the F-35B’s developmental test pha More

PACIFIC OCEAN (NOV. 11, 2016) Group photo of F-35B Lightning II personnel conducting short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) operations aboard USS America (LHA 6) during the third and final developmental test ph More

Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan, Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, delivers his change of command speech during a ceremony May 25, 2017 at Conmy Hall on Joint Base Myer, A More

A Marine with combat cargo looks on as an AV-8B Harrier short take off-vertical landing jet prepares to land during deck qualifications aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) while underway in the Pacific Ocea More

BF-02 piloted by Dan Levin tests vertical landings on a sloped pad at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina, Jan. 17, 2018. With the sloped surface tests, the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated More

Dan Levin, F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, pilots BF-3 on its 691st flight for a flutter and buffet test mission on Feb. 1 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River with external weapons. This flight, shown wit More

Dan Levin, F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, pilots BF-2 during one of the last sloped landing pad flight tests Feb. 8 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina. The test flight was flow More

Dan Levin, F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, pilots BF-2 during one of the last sloped landing pad flight tests Feb. 9 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina. The test flight was flow More

Royal Air Force Sqn. Ldr. Andrew "Gary" Edgell, test pilot at the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, performs a ski jump Aug. 13, 2018, at NAS Patuxent River with an F-35B test jet as part of the workups to More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Lippert, F-35 Pax River ITF test pilot, completes an asymmetric ski jump at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, Aug. 16, 2018, as part of the Queen Elizabeth workups in pr More

Royal Navy Cmdr. Nathan Gray, F-35 Pax River ITF test pilot, conducts short take offs and vertical landings with an F-35B on Aug. 23, 2018, at NAS Patuxent River as part of the workups for the First of Class Fl More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Lippert and Peter Wilson, F-35 test pilots at the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF), conduct night field carrier landing practices Aug. 30, 2018, at NAS Patuxent River in More

Royal Navy Cmdr. Nathan Gray, test pilot with the F-35 Integrated Test Force at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, makes the first ever F-35B Lightning II jet take off from HMS Queen Elizabeth, late September 2018. More

F-35B flight operations Sept. 28 during First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing).

F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force test pilots Peter Wilson and Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Andy Edgell, First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing) lead test pilot, continue FOCFT (FW) developmental test f More

F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force test pilots Peter Wilson and Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Andy Edgell, First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing) lead test pilot, continue FOCFT (FW) developmental test f More