Wednesday, November 14, 2012

F-35 eval completed

F-35 piloted by Lt. Co. Brian O'Neill
Air Force photo by Maj. Karen Roganov
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The last of 24 sorties of the Operational Utility Evaluation of the F-35A was completed Wednesday afternoon, a major step to opening the F-35 training pipeline. Eglin officials said Lt. Col. Brian O'Neill, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron director of operations and a "student" in the OUE at Eglin, was at the controls. The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirkland Air Force Base, N.M., will certify the OUE is complete in the near future. Air Force officials started the F-35A OUE Sept. 10. In the evaluation, data is collected from all facets of F-35 training, including maintenance, classroom, simulator and flights as a precursor for the Air Force to train other services and allies. (Source: Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor, 11/14/12) Previous