Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, Oct. 15 2021

vol. 5, no. 21 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR oct. 15, 2021 An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com
F-35A completes milestone test with refurbished nuclear gravity bombs
by 1st Lt Lindsey Heflin
Nellis AFB, Nev.
Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft re- cently released B61-12 Joint Test Assem- blies during the F-35A’s first Full Weapon System Demonstration, completing the final flight test exercise of the nuclear design certification process.
The 422nd and 59th Test and Evalua- tion Squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., led Air Combat Command’s por- tion of the test effort, with Airmen from the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 926th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and Bolt Aircraft Maintenance Unit leading all maintenance efforts. Once airborne, test pilots flew to the Tonopah Test Range and released two B61-12 JTAs from operationally realistic flight enve- lopes. This event was the first release of the most representative B61-12 test asset from an operationally-representative F-35A.
See F-35a, on Page 5
Airmen from the 926th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron watch as an F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron performs pre-flight checks before launch at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Sept. 21, 2021. The 442nd and 59th Test and Evaluation Squadrons led Air Combat Command’s portion of a nuclear design certification test with maintenance support from the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and Bolt Aircraft Maintenance Unit.
Air Force photographs by Airman 1st Class Zachary Rufus
An F-35A Lighting II carrying a B61-12 Joint Test Assembly sits on the flight line at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Sept. 21, 2021. Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft released B61-12 Joint Test Assemblies during the first Full Weapon System Demonstration, completing the final flight test exercise of the nuclear design certification process.
An F-35A Lightning II takes off to complete the final test exercise of the nuclear design certification process at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Sept. 21, 2021 . Test pilots flew to the Tonopah Test Range at Nellis AFB and released two B61-12 Joint Test Assemblies from operationally realistic flight envelopes.