Article Posted on : - May 23, 2011

F-35 C. A Lockheed Martin photo

WASHINGTON (BNS): The US Navy’s F-35C Joint Strike Fighter has made its first public appearance at an air show at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Eric "Magic" Buus, the F-35C flight commemorated 100 years of naval aviation by highlighting the future of tactical air power, the US Navy said in its website.

The flyover on Saturday originated from the F-35C's primary test site at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The aircraft, CF-2, flew within its approved flight envelope and was accompanied by an F-18 Hornet flying chase, it said.

The F-35C is a fifth generation strike fighter with stealth capability and has larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for the demanding carrier environment.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme is in the system development and demonstration phase, focusing on delivering three different and new aircraft variants to the US Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.