On Aug. 20, a Lockheed Martin 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 (US Navy version) joins the A (USAF) and B (USMC VTOL) models in proving that all three variants of the F-35 can be refueled from a common tanker platform, despite different methods.
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.