The short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II completed its first flight today at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth, Texas. The F-35B will provide a combination of capabilities never before available: stealth, supersonic speed and STOVL basing flexibility. Initial flights of the first F-35B will be conventional takeoff and landing, with transitions to STOVL flight beginning in early 2009. F-35 Lightning IIs will replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18s and Harriers.

The F-35 program is the world's largest military project, involving 11 countries and employing about 20,000 people worldwide.

The satellite video feed is being retransmitted from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. CDT (U.S.). The feed will include footage of takeoff, in-flight maneuvers, landing and sound bites with pilot Graham Tomlinson.

  Satellite-coordinate information is as follows:

  TRANSMISSION

  U.S.

  Ku-Band Satellite                  Galaxy 11/Transponder K24 Slot "C"
  Satellite Location                 91 Degrees West
  Downlink Frequency                 12184.5 MHz, Vertical
  FEC                                3/4
  Symbol Rate                        6.1113


  International - Europe

  International Space Segment        Telstar 12
  Transponder                        K14, Slot D01
  Bandwidth                          5.50
  Downlink Frequency                 11539 MHz Horizontal

If you miss the feed, the video will remain online in both Quicktime and Windows Media formats at:

  http://www.fc-tv.com/webcast/globecast/F-35B-Stovl-First-Flight-SD-WMV.zip
  http://www.fc-tv.com/webcast/globecast/F-35B-Stovl-First-Flight-flv.zip

To replay audio of today's phone-in news conference (active for three days):

  Phone: 888-348-4629 or 719-884-8882
  Code: 723460

   Contacts:

   John R. Kent, 817-308-5567; e-mail john.r.kent@lmco.com
   John Smith, 817-312-5131; e-mail john.a1.smith@lmco.com
   Joe Stout, 817-308-5520, e-mail joe.w.stout@lmco.com
   Kelly Ann Doherty, 817-996-5319, e-mail kelly.a.doherty@lmco.com

   An F-35 electronic media kit is available at: MediaKit

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company