First flight of Italian F-35B

Continental Europe Initially flown unmarked, F-35B BL-01 is understood to be destined for the Italian Air Force. Simone Bovi THE FIRST Italian-built F-35B (BL-01) took its maiden flight at Cameri air base, home of the local Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) facility, on October 24 – the first short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Lightning II to be assembled outside the US. The aircraft went on to complete a first full STOVL transition – including hovering on the