To Team JSF:



The F-35 program made history today with the successful ferry of our third STOVL aircraft, BF-3, to PAX River and two flights of BF-1 including our first ?slow landing? at 130 knots.



The ferry of BF-3 follows a series of successful ground tests that gave us valuable information on LH-class ship integration. After initial local flight tests, Chief Test Pilot Jon Beesley remarked how clean a jet BF-3 is, building on our success with BF-1 and BF-2. The 3 hour 10 minute flight with Slim Knowles aboard followed a successful endurance flight yesterday with the help of great support from PAX tanker and chase aircraft.



The BF-1 flights, separated by a hot-pit refueling, allows pilot Graham Tomlinson to demonstrate further STOVL operations as we build down to hover and vertical landing over the next two weeks. The mission included mode 4 testing at altitude down to 120 kts, then first landing pattern altitude mode 4 operations and first slow landing at 130 kts. The second sortie at 5,000 feet allowed Graham to evaluate a specific configuration with gang of 3 doors open that provides insights in the event of certain failures during short takeoffs, slow or vertical landings.



I want to thank the entire Team for getting these STOVL aircraft designed, built, and into productive flight test. The timing of these events leading up to our annual CEO Conference is significant, and each success helps to rebuild customer confidence.



Fly JSF!



Dan C.



Dan Crowley

EVP & GM - JSF Program