PICTURE & VIDEO: F-35 performs first night flight

Lockheed Martin has performed the first night flight involving an F-35 Lightning II, with conventional take-off and landing test aircraft AF-6 having made the milestone sortie on 18 January.

Flown from Edwards AFB, California, by company test pilot Mark Ward, AF-6 completed a 1h 17min test flight which Lockheed said included making straight approaches to the runway in twilight and darkness and assessing the F-35’s cockpit lighting.

© Lockheed Martin

The night flight achievement "clears the way for night refuelling and formation testing later this year", Lockheed said.