Eight years since a British aircraft carrier last flew a fast jet from her decks, the 65,000-tonne carrier will embark two F-35B test aircraft, from the Integrated Test Force (ITF), based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Around 200 supporting staff, including pilots, engineers, maintainers and data analysts will be joined by two `orange wired` test aircraft, belonging to the ITF, which are expected to conduct 500 take offs and landings during their 11-week period at sea. The aim of these initial, or `developmental` trials are to ascertain, through the specially equipped aircraft and sensors around the ship, the operating parameters of the aircraft and ship, in a range of...
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