The F-35 Joint Program Office restored flight clearance for the F-35B strike fighter variant, announced F-35 spokesman Joe DellaVedova. He said the JPO issued the return-to-flight order on Feb. 12, rescinding a cautionary suspension instituted on Jan. 18 after the failure of a fueldraulic hose on an F-35B jet during a training sortie on Jan. 16 at Eglin AFB, Fla. The hose enables actuator movement for the F-35B’s vectoring exhaust system, explained DellaVedova. Defense Department and contractor engineers determined that the hose was improperly crimped. Maintainers have inspected all the hoses of this type on the current fleet of 25 F-35Bs and will replace those out of tolerance, said DellaVedova. Once compliant hoses are installed, the airplanes may fly, he said. The flight suspension involved only the F-35Bs, not the Air Force’s F-35As or Navy’s F-35Cs.
US Space Command Should Always Be Led by a Guardian
Sept. 12, 2026
General Stephen Whiting took command of U.S. Space Command in January 2024, and if customary three-year tenures hold, his tour would end in January 2027. The question now before the President and Senate is who should follow him? Whoever they choose, it has to be a Guardian—and so should every successor…
