Lockheed Martin F-35A Performs First Night Flight

The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Wednesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Lockheed Martin’s site handles the F-35 . The center wing is the core of the fighter jet, where the wings attach. A company facility in Fort Worth, TX, handles final assembly of all F-35 components.

Piloted by Lockheed Martin test pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant launched at 5:05 p.m. PST and landed after sunset at 6:22 p.m. The mission consisted of a series of straight in approaches in twilight and darkness. 

The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35’s cockpit lighting. The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year.