F-35 drops 2,000-pounder

An F-35 dropped its first-ever 2,000-pound bomb on Wednesday over Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake's test range in the California Mojave Desert. It was a key milestone for the jet. Lockheed Martin is building versions for the Air Force, Navy, Marines and foreign buyers. The Air Force version is designed to carry 18,000 pounds of munitions using 10 weapons stations. (Source: Los Angeles Times, 10/17/12) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the F-35 training center.