The F-35A conventional take-off and landing Joint Strike Fighter dubbed AA-1 landed at Edwards AFB, Calif., on Oct. 1 for a series of tests, including air-start and noise testing. According to prime contractor Lockheed Martin, AA-1 made its 50th flight in late September in Fort Worth, Tex. A Sept. 30 company release said the aircraft flew on Sept. 16 with a full weapons load (using mock weapons) in its internal weapons bays for the first time and on Sept. 25 went through in-flight refueling testing. According to Lockheed’s chief F-35 test pilot, Jon Beesley, “The climb out with full internal weapons carriage was particularly impressive to me; very pleasant to see clean fighter climb rates and angles while carrying a combat load.” (USAF photo release)
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.