Marine F-35B roll out

Marine Corp color guard member stands by during the USMC F-35B Lightning II roll out ceremony Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B roll out

Marine Corps color guard members stand by during the USMC F-35B Lightning II roll out ceremony Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Dropping bombs

An A-10 Thunderbolt II, from the 104th Fighter Squadron, drops a guided bomb unit-12 during a Combat Hammer mission last month at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Combat Hammer is a weapons system evaluation managed by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The Combat Hammer (air to ground) and Archer (air to air) programs are missions of the 53rd Wing. (Courtesy photo)

Gas & go

An A-10 Thunderbolt II, from the 104th Fighter Squadron, tries to connect for an in-flight refuel during a Combat Hammer mission last month at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Combat Hammer is a weapons system evaluation managed by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. The Combat Hammer (air to ground) and Archer (air to air) programs are missions of the 53rd Wing. (Courtesy photo)

Night Strike

The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Jan. 18 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The mission consisted of a series of straight-in approaches in twilight and darkness. The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35's cockpit lighting which Ward called, "the best he's ever seen." The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year. (Lockheed Martin photo) (Lockheed Martin photos by Tom Reynolds and Darin Russell)

Night Strike

The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Jan. 18 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The mission consisted of a series of straight-in approaches in twilight and darkness. The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35's cockpit lighting which Ward called, "the best he's ever seen." The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year. (Lockheed Martin photo) (Lockheed Martin photos by Tom Reynolds and Darin Russell)