CF-2, the second F-35C test aircraft in the US Navy’s carrier-based configuration, has flown for the first time, announced prime contractor Lockheed Martin. Company F-35 test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew the aircraft on its maiden mission April 29 from NAS Fort Worth JRB, Tex. CF-2 is scheduled to fly to NAS Patuxent River, Md., later this year, where it will join CF-1, the first F-35C test aircraft, and four Marine Corps F-35B test aircraft in flight test activities. Air Force F-35A test aircraft are operating out of Edwards AFB, Calif. (Lockheed photo caption by Randy Crites)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.