The short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II completed its first flight moments ago 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.

Today we will host a phone-in news conference, a flight-line media opportunity and will provide video via satellite feed. Flight photos will be available on site and online at http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ and http://www.teamjsf.com/.

The phone-in news conference will begin at approximately 1:30 p.m. CDT. Participants include F-35B STOVL Lead Pilot Graham Tomlinson of BAE Systems, F-35 Program General Manager Dan Crowley of Lockheed Martin, F-35 Program Executive Officer Maj. Gen. C.R. Davis and leaders from across the F-35 team.

  Call-in information for North America:
  Phone: 800-214-0745
  Participant Code: 723460

  Outside North America please use:
  Phone: + 719-457-0700
  Code: 723460

  To replay the news conference (active for three days):
  Phone: 888-348-4629 or 719-884-8882
  Code: 723460

The satellite video feed is being retransmitted until 3:20 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:

  U.S.
  Ku-Band Satellite                       Galaxy 11/Transponder K24 Slot "C"
  Satellite Location                      91 Degrees West
  Downlink Frequency                      12113.5 MHz, Horizontal
  FEC                                     3/4
  Symbol Rate                             6.1113

  International - AUSTRALIA
  International Fiber                     Global Vision
  Australian Fiber/News                   STS via DVN (Swish)
  STS DVN STS TX 7

  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

The flight-line media opportunity at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth is planned for approximately 2:30 p.m. CDT and will include the same participants as the phone-in news conference. The aircraft will be in view of cameras and reporters during the news conference.

  Directions to Lockheed Martin, 1 Lockheed Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas, 76108:
   From downtown Fort Worth, go west on I-30 for about eight miles
   Take the Spur 341 exit (right)
   Follow Spur 341 to the Lockheed Martin gate

   Reporters and photographers, please show your identification to the
   guards at the main gate. Your vehicle and equipment are subject to
   search. Posted signs will direct you to the check-in area at Bldg. 200.

  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