US Air Force,
EDWARDS Air Force Base, CA: An F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, numbered AA-1, taxied past the control tower on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 1. It marked the first time the aircraft arrived here.
The F-35 will perform a series of tests, including airstart and noise testing. The aircraft flew in from Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas.
The F-35 is a stealthy, single-engine, supersonic multi-role fighter that will replace a variety of aging fighter and strike aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied defense forces. The A-10 Thunderbolt, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet and A/V-8 Harrier are among the jets it will replace.
Once fielded, it will complement the fleet of F-22 Raptor air-supremacy fighters that are already operational.
