EAST HARTFORD, Conn.,
Pratt & Whitney's F135 conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) production engine powered the successful first flight of a production F-35 aircraft on Friday, Feb. 25. This milestone marks the introduction of Pratt & Whitney's F135 production engines into service. Pratt & Whitney is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX - News) company.
"The first flight of a production F135 engine and F-35 Lightning II aircraft is another important milestone and is indicative of the transition of the program from a pure development phase," saidBennett Croswell, vice president of F135/F119 Engine Programs, Pratt & Whitney. "We are one step closer to getting this magnificent aircraft to the war fighter. I am proud of the F135 team and our partners at Hamilton Sundstrand and Lockheed Martin for this tremendous program accomplishment. We look forward to seeing the F135-powered Lightning II in operational flight."
During the flight, the CTOL F-35A variant, known as AF-6, underwent basic flight maneuvering and engine tests. Lockheed Martin Flight Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti took off from Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 4:05 p.m. EST and landed at 5:05 p.m. The jet will continue flight tests in Fort Worth for about a month before it is accepted by the Air Force.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-defense-news-pratt-whitneys.html
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