F-35 officials define sortie rates for flight test

Flight International's correspondant Stephen Trimble reports that Lockheed and the US government have disclosed new details about the F-35 Lightning II's flight-test program schedule.

Since the first flight was achieved, Dec. 2006, 100 sorties have been completed by three aircraft. Through 2010, 10 more aircraft will be added to the test aircraft fleet. By September 2013 the 5000th sortie mark is expected to be reached. The 12-aircraft fleet (AA-1 will be retired by then) will then perform 12 sorties a month, at a maximum rate of 144 flight hours a month

• LockheedMartin

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