Marine F-35B roll out

Marine Corp color guard members stand together after 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 stand in front the F-35B Lightning II at its official roll out ceremony Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B roll out

U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller speaks at the Marine Corps 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 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

A drummer with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing band performs at the Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II roll out ceremony Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

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)