First flight of the X-35C, the carrier-variant demonstrator

Test pilot Joe Sweeney, a former Navy attack aviator, took off at 09:23 Pacific time from Lockheed Martin's Palmdale plant and flew for twenty-seven minutes, climbing to 10,000 feet and accelerating to 250 knots before landing at Edwards. The X-35C was distinguished by a larger wing and control surfaces and by structure reinforced for catapult launch and arrested recovery. Its campaign concentrated on handling qualities in the carrier approach.