Marine Squadron Conducts First F-35 Test

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 conducted its first expeditionary test of the F-35B Lighting II fighter, during a Dec. 10 exercise at Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms Air Ground Combat Center, Calif. Taking part in the Steel Knight exercise, the plane also made vertical landings at both Twentynine Palms and Pendleton’s Red Beach. “This is the first time that we get to truly test the capabilities of the aircraft in an expeditionary setting,” said Maj. Colin Newbold, the squadron’s flight operations officer.