USMC continues expeditionary roll-out of F-35B with first sloped landingsGareth Jennings, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
25 January 2018
http://www.janes.com/article/77337/usmc-continues-expeditionary-roll-out-of-f-35b-with-first-sloped-landings?utm_campaign=PC6110_E18%20DF%20NL%20Airforces%2030_01_18&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua The US Marine Corps (USMC) is continuing to develop the tactical operating capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), with the first sloped-surface landing announced on 22 January.
Aircraft and personnel from the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) performed vertical landing trials of an F-35B on a specially constructed sloped surface at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina, on 16 January.
As noted by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the trials were focused on simulating expeditionary conditions as the programme moves towards its initial operational test and evaluation phase.
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The Paxuxent River ITF will analyse nearly 200 data test points to assess how well the F-35B operates on varying slopes, the impacts of head and tailwinds, and the effect of aft centre of gravity in conjunction with ground slopes.