The Marine Corps F-35B just completed its

and thankfully, all the jets and their crews came home unscathed. It was the first time a contingent of more than two F-35Bs have been to the boat, and seeing six relatively large stealth fighters do their thing on Wasp’s deck is pretty damn cool.

During two weeks the half dozen F-35B’s were aboard the ship, pilots and maintenance crews demonstrated different aspects of the jets’ capabilities and needs. These included everything from to loading and unloading weapons into the F-35B’s tight weapons bays. Pilots even cycles. In all, 108 sorties were flown and 30 maintenance demonstrations were executed in relation to the jet’s ability to operate aboard the ship.

A half dozen F-35Bs are deployed aboard the USS Wasp for Operational Test phase one of shipboard…

A real-life cruise aboard a ‘Gator Navy’ flattop is still years away for the F-35B (). Still, the USMC wants to declare the jet operational this summer.

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