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And the second screen contained my targeting Pod in one half and DAS in the other.

I hand flew because I wanted to play with the screens and figure out how to make best
use of the systems during flight.

Question: How is the F-35 a game changer for the Italian Air Force?

Answer: The F-35 gives us much greater global reach. We have so much gas in the air-
craft and it is so fuel efficient, it gives us options in the various scenarios we are likely to
face in our area of operations.

Rolling Out the F-35 Fleet from the Testing Perspective: An
Interview with the Chief Test Engineer for the F-35 ITF at

Pax River

During a recent visit to Pax River, we had the chance to discuss the F-35 test approach
and way ahead with Andrew Maack, F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) site director and
chief test engineer. Although we were at Pax River, the F-35 ITF is rooted in an integrat-
ed team at Edwards AFB as well, and the two teams, although in different physical loca-
tions, are part of the same team.

In 2014, Maack received a Department Navy award (2013 Test & Evaluation (T&E) Lead
Tester Award) for his performance and accomplishments. Maack would be the first to
tell you that the team deserves the credit, but he has 30 years of Navy test and evalua-
tion experience on the F-35 program as well as on other Attack, Jammer, and V/STOL
platforms and it was from his comprehensive test experience that he discussed the F-35
program with us.

He made several points, which we will focus on below.

First, developmental testing goes on throughout the life cycle of a combat air program.
He noted that developmental testing with the F/A-18 was ongoing and, with a software
upgradeable airplane such as the F-35, developmental testing would not end until the

Second Line of Defense Lessons Learned at Pax River
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