Boeing

The Boeing Joint Strike Fighter X-32A concept demonstrator flies over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on its tenth flight.

Boeing lead test pilot Fred Knox took the aircraft to an altitude of 10,000 feet and continued validating the aircraft's carrier variant flying qualities.

To date, the X-32A has accumulated more than seven hours of flight time toward validating the JSF's flying qualities and performance for conventional and aircraft carrier operations as part of the five-month flight-test program.

The X-32A is one of two concept demonstrators Boeing is building to demonstrate the design concepts used for the operational JSF. It will demonstrate conventional takeoff and landing for the U.S. Air Force, and carrier approach flying qualities for the U.S. Navy.

The X-32B, which is expected to fly in the first quarter of 2001, will demonstrate short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing requirements for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.

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