Lockheed Martin‘s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fleet could be taking test flights in the coming weeks, according to DodBuzz.
Gen. Edward Rice, commander of Air Education and Training Command, said during a press conference that the Air Force has been awaiting military flight clearance for the fleet.
Rice said that after clearance is given, the Air Force will move forward with executing a formal pilot training syllabus that will transition the fleet from a no-fly phase.
âThat phase will be characterized by putting more hours on the aircraft [and] checking out the individual elements of the syllabus,” Rice said to DodBuzz.
Elgin Air Force Base will assess takeoff and landing, communication and data processing.
âWe have to make sure that the system matures itself such that we can sustain a sortie rate that will allow us to begin training,” Rice said.