The first F-35A of the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) made its first flight to Fort Worth on the August 24. The aircraft, designated AX-1, took off at the 11.12 and landed at 12.46 local time. The flight was piloted by Lockheed Martin Paul Hattendorf's F-35 pilot test.
Japan provides for the purchase of 42 F-35A, conventional take-off and landing aircraft, or CTOL, purchased with the Foreign Military Sales government program. The first four aircraft are in Fort Worth for assembly and their delivery was anticipated by the end of the 2016. The remaining 38 aircraft will be assembled at the FACO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagoya, Japan. Other aircraft are being assembled in Nagoya. Preparation for maintenance for the first team of Japanese workers has already started at the Eglin base in Florida, and training of the first F-35 pilots of JASDF F-35 will start at Luke's base in Arizona, in November 2016.
(photo: Lockheed Martin)
