Could Happen Any Day Now...

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 12.13.06 1115 EST: Representatives with Lockheed Martin tell ANN the first production-spec F-35 Lightning II successfully completed all ground taxi tests Tuesday, paving the way for its inaugural flight.

In a series of tests that began on December 7, F-35 Chief Pilot Jon Beesley guided the fighter along the runway at increasing speeds to evaluate the aircraft's ground handling and systems. On December 12, Beesley executed two final taxi runs, the first at 80 knots and the last at 110 knots.

Pushed along by the Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan -- the most powerful fighter engine in history -- the Lightning II performed its final taxi runs successfully, with all parameters meeting Lockheed's expectations.

Over the next 24 hours the flight test team will review all taxi-test data... and although the date for first flight is not definite, the flight window will be from 9 am - 3 pm CST when all conditions - weather, etc. - are "go."

Expect a first flight before the end of this week... possibly, before the end of today.

The stealthy F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, fifth-generation fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers.

Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 Lightning II with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

FMI: www.jsf.mil, www.lockheedmartin.com