A Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, known as AF-73, took to the skies July 17, marking the first flight by an F-35 possessing two vertical tails manufactured by the Australian-based engineering company Marand. Lockheed Martin Chief Test Pilot Alan Norman, flew the sortie lasting 84 minutes.
AF-73 successfully launches on its first sortie with Lockheed Martin’s Alan Norman at the controls. (Photo credit: John Wilson, Lockheed Martin)
“The first flight of this particular F-35A marks a monumental achievement for Marand and our dedicated employees,” said Marand Chief Executive Officer Rohan Stocker. “It has been an incredible journey from the point where we initially bid for this work with BAE Systems to witnessing the reality of our vertical tails being an integral part of the F-35. This is a great moment, and we look forward to continuing to build our future as a global supplier to the F-35 program as well as to other advanced manufacturing opportunities in Australia.”
The first flight of AF-73 is an important milestone for Marand, BAE Systems and Australia, demonstrating the significant industrial benefits the F-35 program brings to the growing Australian aerospace industry. The F-35 vertical tails work is contracted to Marand by BAE Systems. This is one of the largest manufacturing projects for the Australian F-35 program, with 722 ship sets planned.
Lockheed Martin’s Alan Norman pilots the first flight of AF-73 in a sortie lasting 84 minutes. (Photo credit: Matthew Short, Lockheed Martin)
The F-35 Lightning II aircraft will provide the Royal Australian Air Force with a transformational 5th generation fighter capability and provides significant benefits to the Australian aerospace industry, with more than $482 million (USD) already contracted.
AF-73 will join the U.S. Air Force F-35A fleet later this year at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Marand designs and manufactures complex and innovative equipment and expertise to the aerospace, defence, automotive, rail and renewable energy industries. Our customer base includes companies such as Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Boeing, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.
Our expertise in applying innovative manufacturing and production techniques, with precision where needed, delivers substantial financial benefits to our customers. This has resulted in Marand being the largest Australian supplier on the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme. In addition to the F-35 Vertical Tails program, Marand is the global sole source of the F-35 engine removal and installation trailer.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 112 ,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2014 were $45.6 billion
