The second F-35C Lightning II carrier variant takes off on its first flight from Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (Texas) Friday, April 29.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti piloted the jet on its first flight.

The supersonic F-35C, known as CF-2, is scheduled to fly to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, later this year, where it will join the first F-35C and four F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jets to continue flight testing.