F-35 sim a cut above

The $20 million simulators for pilots who will learn to fly the Lockheed Martin F-35 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., are so advanced they can be used to replicated aerial refueling with a KC-10 and KC-135, officials said. Air Force Times reports that 10 of the full mission simulators, built by Lockheed Martin, have been ordered so far. The refueling capability is just one of the advances. (Source: Air Force Times, 12/27/11) Eglin is where pilots from all branches of the U.S. military as well as allied pilots will be trained on all three variants of the fighter.