First Aussie F-35 takes shape

Lockheed Martin and the Royal Australian Air Force celebrated the beginnings of the first F-35 for Australia this week. The aircraft, AU-1, started the process where major components of the aircraft are joined together to form the aircraft's structure. AU-1 will make its way down the assembly line and roll out of the factory for delivery to the RAAF in the summer of 2014. The global supply chain for the F-35 has 14 Australian companies under contract and building parts for the F-35. Every F-35 built will have some Australian parts and components. (Source: Lockheed Martin, 10/08/13) Meanwhile, the F-35 surpassed 10,000 flight hours in September, with more than half accumulated in the past 11 months. The milestone was set by aircraft operating at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Edwards AFB, Calif., Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and Nellis AFB, Nev. (Source: Lockheed Martin, 10/09/13)