The first F-35C Lightning II sortie takes off from the U.S. Navy F-35 Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 101 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Aug. 14. Sailors have been on station for two years ready for the day they would launch a carrier variant of the military's joint strike fighter. The Navy's first pilot training course at Eglin was concluded in January and the second course began June with seven pilots soon to begin training flight operations in two of the squadron's F-35Cs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Lt. Cdr. Chris Tabert pilots the first F-35C Lightning II flight at Eglin Air Force Base Aug. 14. Before arriving to U.S. Navy F-35 Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 101 in February, he served as a test pilot for the joint strike fighter program at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. He will become the squadron's first instructor pilot and join a collocated team of Marine, Navy, Air Force and international partners training here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Lt. Cdr. Chris Tabert walks to the flightline to pilot the first F-35C Lightning II flight at Eglin Air Force Base Aug. 14. Before arriving to U.S. Navy F-35 Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 101 in February, he served as a test pilot for the joint strike fighter program at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. He will become the squadron's first instructor pilot and join a collocated team of Marine, Navy, Air Force and international partners training here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Lt. Cdr. Chris Tabert puts on the specialized helmet before piloting the first F-35C Lightning II flight at Eglin Air Force Base Aug. 14. Before arriving to U.S. Navy F-35 Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 101 in February, he served as a test pilot for the joint strike fighter program at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. He will become the squadron's first instructor pilot and join a collocated team of Marine, Navy, Air Force and international partners training here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The first F-35C Lightning II sortie takes off from the U.S. Navy F-35 Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 101 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Aug. 14. Sailors have been on station for two years ready for the day they would launch a carrier variant of the military's joint strike fighter. The Navy's first pilot training course at Eglin was concluded in January and the second course began June with seven pilots soon to begin training flight operations in two of the squadron's F-35Cs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Lt. Cdr. Chris Tabert pilots the first F-35C Lightning II flight at Eglin Air Force Base Aug. 14. Before arriving to U.S. Navy F-35 Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 101 in February, he served as a test pilot for the joint strike fighter program at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. He will become the squadron's first instructor pilot and join a collocated team of Marine, Navy, Air Force and international partners training here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The first F-35C Lightning II sortie takes off from the U.S. Navy F-35 Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 101 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Aug. 14. Sailors have been on station for two years ready for the day they would launch a carrier variant of the military's joint strike fighter. The Navy's first pilot training course at Eglin was concluded in January and the second course began June with seven pilots soon to begin training flight operations in two of the squadron's F-35Cs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Lt. Cdr. Chris Tabert pilots the first F-35C Lightning II flight at Eglin Air Force Base Aug. 14. Before arriving to U.S. Navy F-35 Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 101 in February, he served as a test pilot for the joint strike fighter program at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. He will become the squadron's first instructor pilot and join a collocated team of Marine, Navy, Air Force and international partners training here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)