Arnold Engineering and Development Center in Tennessee has wrapped up wind tunnel testing on a 1/12 scale model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the Air Force’s conventional takeoff and Marine Corps’ short takeoff and landing variants. Center officials say AEDC ran more than 8,000 hours on the JSF. Data from the tests goes into the fighter’s aerodynamic database for analysis prior to flight test of the actual aircraft.
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.