The F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) version of the JSF has performed its first landing on a ship, when BF-2 landed vertically on the LHD, USS Wasp on October 3.
The landing marks the beginning of ship suitability testing, known as developmental test 1, for the F-35B. Other milestones to be completed during the tests include verifying basic performance and handling qualities in a flight envelope that approximates that used by fleet pilots during carrier qualification flights.
BF-2 is scheduled to fly from the Wasp for a period of two weeks.
