F-35 out of the storm

As Ash Carter's tenure as U.S. defense secretary draws to a close, he says all the work done to fix the F-35 program is finally paying off. In 2010 the program was in trouble after racking up $13.5 billion in cost overruns and a six-year delay. After seven years of hard work on the government and industry sides, it's now paying off. Costs are coming down and the Marines and airmen beginning to operate the F-35B and F-35A say they're awed by its capabilities. There are still challenges, but Carter says the F-35 is unequivocally the best fighter in the world. (Source: Aerospace Daily and Defense Report, 01/04/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center and reprogramming lab.