Lockheed F-35B fighter has 1st flight at Fla. base

The Marine Corps version of Lockheed Martin Corp's new F-35 fighter jet had its first flight out of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida on Tuesday, a critical step toward the start of pilot training on the new, radar-evading warplane.

Eglin is home to six Air Force or 'A' variants of the F-35 fighter, which began flights at the air base in March, and 12 'B' models, which can take off from shorter runways and land like a helicopter. Tuesday's flight brings the total for all initial F-35 flights from the base to 47, a spokeswoman said.

The Marines plan more conventional flights of the F-35B planes in coming months, gradually expanding to short takeoffs and vertical landings and more complex aerial training, the Pentagon said.

Read more