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F-35C fighter refueled in-flight by USAF KC-135

27th August 2013 - 17:19 GMT | by Shephard News Team

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Lockheed Martin has reported that an F-35 Lightning II carrier variant (CV) has been refuelled during flight by a US Air Force KC-135 for the first time. The refuelling took place on 20 August.

With the completion of this test, the F-35C joins the A and B models in proving that all three variants of the F-35 can be refuelled from a common tanker platform, despite different methods. The F-35 aircraft, known as CF-1, was piloted by Lt. Col. Patrick Moran for the flight.

Earlier this month, the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101, the US Navy's first F-35C Lightning II CV aircraft squadron, completed its first flight at Eglin Air Force Base.