The X-35A completes its conventional test programme

The X-35A wrapped up its conventional-configuration test programme in barely a month and returned to the Palmdale plant. There it was stripped and reconfigured with the shaft-driven lift fan to be reborn as the X-35B, the demonstrator for the short take-off and vertical landing variant. Reusing the same airframe was one of the Lockheed Martin team's bets for keeping the demonstration affordable.