Five F-35Bs begin shipboard testing

Five Joint Strike Fighter "B"-variant aircraft landed on the amphibious assault ship America for testing last week, according to the Navy.

America (LHA-6) will embark seven F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing jets. Two aircraft are scheduled to begin developmental testing and five jets are slated for operational testing, according to a service statement.

"The ship's design features several aviation capabilities enhanced beyond previous amphibious assault ships which include an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, a significant increase in available stowage of parts and equipment, as well as increased aviation fuel capacity," according to the Navy.

The third developmental test will evaluate F-35B operations in a high-sea state, shipboard landings and night operations.

"It's exciting to start the execution phase of our detachment with VMX-1 (Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1) on USS America," Lt. Col. Tom "Sally" Fields, F-35 Patuxent River ITF Government Flight Test director said in a statement.

"During the next three weeks, we will be completing critical flight test for both Developmental Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT)," Fields, who is assigned to VX-23, said, adding: "The F-35 Pax River ITF and VX-23 will be conducting DT work that will establish the boundaries of safe operation for the F-35B in the 3F configuration. VMX-1 will be conducting OT operations focused on preparing maintenance crews and pilots for the first deployment of the F-35B aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1), scheduled to start in just over a year."

Operational shipboard testing includes simulating extensive maintenance aboard a ship, Col. George Rowell, VMX-1 commanding officer, said in the same statement.

For example, one of the squadron's jets will be placed in the hangar bay, taken apart and put together again, he said.

Another maintenance task includes replacing a lift fan that gives the F-35B its "jump-jet" capability, Rowell added.