After years of partnership within the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, U.S. and United Kingdom team members from the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) eagerly anticipate the First of Class Flight Trials (FOCFTs) onboard the U.K.’s newest aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, this fall.
When the first two fifth-generation F-35Bs – piloted by the ITF’s Royal Navy Cmdr. Nathan Gray and Royal Air Force Sqn. Ldr. Andrew Edgell – touch down on the carrier’s deck, the historic moment will be a tremendous step in bringing back Britain’s ability to launch fast jets at sea after a nearly 10-year hiatus.
“It’ll be the return of maritime aviation fixed-wing to the U.K.,” said Royal Navy Cmdr. Stephen Crockatt, team leader of UK personnel embedded within the ITF at both Pax River and Edwards Air Force Base, California. “We’ll do the [ship] trials and collect the data so next year the U.K. can do an operational trial. Then the U.K. will have jets back at sea — a capability we haven’t had in a long time.”
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the first of a new class of aircraft carriers that are the biggest and most powerful ships ever constructed for the Royal Navy. It features a flight deck designed exclusively to handle the F-35B, the short take-off and vertical landing variant of the fifth generation aircraft.
The FOCFTs will also mark the first time the Pax River ITF has conducted F-35 flight trials aboard a partner nation’s aircraft carrier, and as the event approaches, ITF program leaders sat down to reflect on the evolution of the JSF program, the dedication of its hard-working team members, and the cooperative partnership between the U.S. and U.K.
NAVAIR release
