Parachute grounds F-35

Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters have been grounded due to improper loading of parachutes in their ejection seats. The suspension of flight and high-speed ground testing began Jan. 26 and affects six aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., nine at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and three nearly completed planes at Lockheed's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. It does not affect eight F-35 aircraft at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., which have older ejection seats. (Sources: Aviation Week, Reuters, 01/30/12)