On the basis of Fort Worth of the US Navy, tests of the first production F-35A Lightning II fighter, the American company Lockheed Martin, took place. Aircraft with tail number AF-6 made a test flight lasting one hour. The tests were found to be completely successful, according to Star-Telegram.
Several more test flights are planned for the near future at the same base, after which the F-35A will arrive at another base - Edwards in late March - early April, where a number of tests will take place. Delivery of the first production short-take-off and vertical-landing fighter, the F-35B, is also expected to be delivered to the US Marine Corps in 2011. In 2012, the US Navy will receive the first production carrier-based F-35C.
Having received production vehicles, the American military will conduct their tests for combat use. Based on the results of the tests, the military will determine the requirements for the revision of new fighters. According to the US DoD schedule, the F-35A and F-35C will enter service in mid-2016, and the F-35B in 2018.
F-35 flight training will begin long before the new aircraft are put into service. US Air Force combat pilots will begin training on F-35A fighters by the end of 2011. For this purpose, Eglin Air Force Base will receive 20 aircraft with Block 1 training software. Following a brief instructor training, training for conventional pilots will begin.
