The first Italian F-35 Lightning II, known as AL-1 and assembled in the FACO factory - Final Assembly and Check Out - by Cameri, flew today for the first time in what was absolutely the first flight of the F- 35 outside the United States.
The Lockheed Martin Bill "Gigs" Gigliotti test pilot took off at the 13: 05, local time, for a test flight of 1,22 hours with the AL-1, which represents a milestone for Italy and for the productive partnership between Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi and Lockheed Martin.
"The first flight of the AL-1 is an extraordinary milestone, achieved thanks to the skillful work and strong commitment of the joint teams of Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi and Lockheed Martin", said Lorraine Martin, General Manager of the F-35 program of Lockheed Martin. "The first flight in Italy lays solid foundations for the F-35 program in Italy and for future opportunities for the Cameri FACO. I offer my warmest congratulations to all those who have worked tirelessly to make us reach this fundamental goal for the international program ".
The first flight of the AL-1 took place as planned. "The plane performed the test excellently and without any unexpected events," commented Gigliotti. "I am honored to have flown with the AL-1 in its maiden flight and I am grateful to the Cameri team who entrusted me with a fantastic plane. We expect great results from now to delivery of the aircraft, scheduled for later this year."
The Cameri FACO is owned by the Italian Government and is managed by Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi in collaboration with Lockheed Martin. The production activities for F-35 at FACO started in July 2013 and in March the first F-35 for Italy, the AL-1, was rolled out. Delivery of the first F-35A to Italy is scheduled for Cameri by the end of the year. The Cameri plant will assemble both the F-35A for take-off and conventional landing and the F-35B for short take-off and vertical landing for Italy and it is planned that it will also assemble the aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The F-35A and B will replace the AV-8 Harrier, the Panavia Tornado and the AMX supplied to the Italian Air Force and Navy.
In addition to being responsible for production activities at FACO, Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi produces complete wing boxes for the F-35A fleet. The production mandate assigned to Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi, as a strategic partner for the assembly of F-35A wing boxes, is one of the broadest of Italian competence within the F-35 program and involves the assembly of 835 cassoni andirons. Finmeccanica also participates in the F-35 program with Selex ES, responsible for the aircraft's various electronic systems.
The "F-35 Lightning II" aircraft, a fifth generation fighter, combines the most advanced low-observability stealth technology with the speed and agility of typical fighter aircraft, the sensor fusion for more efficient acquisition and management. information, network operational capabilities and advanced support functions. More than 130 F-35 aircraft were delivered to the customers of the program and more than 38.700 flight hours were carried out by the entire fleet.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is an active global security and aerospace group with approximately 112.000 employees worldwide and is primarily engaged in research, design, development, production, integration and maintenance of systems, products and services with high technological content. In the 2014 the Group has a turnover equal to 45,6 billion dollars.
(slider photo by Todd McQueen: The first F-35A for the Italian Air Force, which is also the first built at the FACO in Cameri, flew the skies over Italy on 7 September, making the first international Lightning flight. Opening photo of Beth Steel: The first F-35A for the Italian Air Force, which is also the first built at the FACO of Cameri, crossed the skies near the Italian Alps on September 7, carrying out the first international flight of the Lightning II)
