Pax River F-35 ITF leaves HMS Queen Elizabeth after 'eclipsing aspirations'
Navy photograph The F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force completed the first two phases of first of class flight trials (fixed wing) testing aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), Nov. 19, 2018. A third phase, followed by operational testing, is scheduled for 2019. Together the events will help the UK ministry of Defence reach initial operating capability (maritime) in 2020. F-35 Lightning jets from the Pax River Integrated Test Force left HMS Queen Elizabeth, Nov. 19, 2018, after eight weeks flying on and off the 65,000-tonne warship, helping to write the ‘operator’s manual’ so the jets c...