Navy readies for first F-35 carrier landing
http://www.stripes.com/news/navy-readies-for-first-f-35-carrier-landing-1.309808
Navy readies for first F-35 carrier landing
By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: October 23, 2014
ABOARD THE USS NIMITZ Before the Navys oldest active aircraft carrier docks for a 16-month maintenance period, its helping other ships get ready for deployment, and next month, will host the first landing of the F-35C on a carrier.
The Marine version of the Joint Strike Fighter, the short-takeoff, vertical-landing F-35B, has made successful landings aboard ships at sea. But the Navys version, the F-35C, which is designed to land on carriers, has not in part because of problems with the tail hook.
The landing test will take place on the Nimitz after the conclusion of the current task group exercise, which began Monday off San Diego and includes U.S. guided missile cruisers and guided missile destroyers as well as four Canadian ships and a Yokosuka-based Japanese ship.
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