Financial Times FT.com

Joint strike fighter: Jump jet stumbles over cost and orders

By Sylvia Pfeifer, Defence Industries Correspondent

Published: July 14 2008 10:59 | Last updated: July 14 2008 10:59

A British test pilot made history in June when he became the first person to fly the world’s newest jump jet.

Graham Tomlinson, a former RAF Harrier pilot, took to the skies over Texas in the short-take off and vertical landing (Stovl) or jump jet version of the new F-35 Lightning II for its first flight. Mr Tomlinson said the F-35B, as it is called, gave him “a relaxed first flight, with the aircraft handling and performing just as we predicted”.

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