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 will promote 11.07 percent of eligible master sergeants to senior master sergeant this year, a decline from last cycle that snaps a four-year streak of increases. Out of a pool of 13,315 eligible individuals, 1,474 new E-8s were selected.