F-35 V/STOL – MCAS Yuma

Video by Pfc. Brendan King Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 conducted its first F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Short Take Off, Vertical Landing operations aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. at approximately 8:45 a.m. March 21, 2013. This was also the first dual flight of VMFA-121 F-35B aircraft. F-35 test pilot Maj. Richard Rusnok flew BF-19 and conducted the STOVL operations while VMFA-121 Commanding Officer, LtCol. Jeffrey Scott flew BF-20 as a chase aircraft.

This occasion marked an important milestone for the F-35 program showing the ability to perform a vertical landing outside of a testing environment.