Phil Ammann
On Monday, U.S. Rep. David Jolly gets to do something only a handful of civilians will ever experience; piloting the next-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter, the world’s most advanced military aircraft.
The Indian Shores Republican won’t leave the ground, though. This firsthand look inside the F-35, will happen through Lockheed Martin’s high-tech interactive cockpit demonstrator, created to simulate the advanced technologies and combat capabilities, providing the ultimate virtual experience. It will demonstrate how the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the most versatile weapon system in modern history, as well as the most advanced aircraft in the sky.
Jolly, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, will attend the Lockheed Martin event at 1 p.m., at 9328 Street North in Pinellas Park.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin, the lead contractor for the F-35 program, also provides training for both pilots and maintainers, including classroom instruction, flight simulators and mock-up aircraft for technical crews.
At Monday’s event, reporters and guests will also have an opportunity “fly” the demonstrator. They will get to experience the F-35 Lightning II, which offers the latest innovations in fighter and advanced stealth technology, speed and agility, fully fused sensor information and network-enabled operation.
To date, the project has produced more than 130 F-35s, flying more than 38,700 cumulative fleet flight hours.
F-35 single-seat jets — costing between $148 million and $337 million each, depending on version — come in three variants: The F-35A, which uses conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL), and the F-35C carrier variant (CV), designed for exclusive use on aircraft carriers.
