[News] JSF made successful first flight

The first JSF pre-production aircraft successfully completed its first flight on Friday.
The F-35A Lightning II, the Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) variety of the
new fighter, is the first of the 20 preproduction aircraft, including the short takeoff
vertical landing (STOVL) version F-35B and the carrier version F-35C, are expected
to join the flight test programme that is expected to enter an intensive flight test
programme before entering service by 2010.

The F-35 is expected to replace the F-16s and A-10s in the USAF, F/A-18s and AV-8Bs
in the US Navy and Marine, and the Harrier GR.7/7A/9 in the Royal Air Force.

Lockheed Martin

BBC News