The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed last Wednesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, launched at 5:05 p.m. PST and landed after sunset at 6:22 p.m.

The mission consisted of a series of straight in approaches in twilight and darkness.

The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35's cockpit lighting which Ward called, "the best he's ever seen." The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year.

Largest Lockheed Martin F-35 Fleet Now Resides at Eglin Air Force Base
Piloted by U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Joseph Bachmann, BF-7 departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 2:07 p.m. CST on its 90 minute ferry flight to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

With the delivery of BF-7, a F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet, Eglin is now the home of the largest F-35 fleet in the Department of Defense (DoD).

BF-7 is assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 with the host 33d Fighter Wing.

BF-7 joins two other STOVL jets and six F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jets for a total of nine Lightning IIs-- more than any other DoD base.

BF-7 will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the F-35 Integrated Training Center located at Eglin.