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World Aviation Industry News - Lockheed Martin
 
 
F-35C completes first in-flight refuel with United States Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft.
 
On Aug. 20, an F-35 Lightning II carrier variant (CV) refueled from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 for the first time. With the completion of this test, the F-35C joins the A and B models in proving that all three variants of the F-35 can be refueled from a common tanker platform, despite different methods.
     

F-35C carrier variant fighter aircraft completes first in-flight refuel with U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft.
     
The aircraft, known as CF-1, was piloted by Lt. Col. Patrick Moran. Earlier this month, the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101, the Navy's first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft squadron, completed its first flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft.
The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation's net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.