Nellis F-35A Lightning II takes first flight

U.S. Air Force Capt. Brad Matherne, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron pilot, views flightline activity inside an F-35A Lightning II before a training mission April 4, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 422nd TES will design the tactics for the F-35A. The squadron will also determine how to integrate the F-35A with other aircraft in the Air Force inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)

Nellis F-35A Lightning II takes first flight

U.S. Air Force Capt. Brad Matherne, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron pilot, conducts pre-flight checks inside an F-35A Lightning II before a training mission April 4, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The F-35A will be integrated into advanced training programs such as the USAF Weapons School, Red Flag and Green Flag exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)

Nellis accepts delivery of F-35 with ceremony

Orlando Carvalho, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics executive vice president and general manager of the F-35 program, speaks during the F-35A Lightning II arrival ceremony March 19, 2013, in the Thunderbird Hangar at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. In his position as program manager, Carvalho was responsible for the successful completion of the system development and demonstration program, production, flight testing, global deployment and sustainment of the three F-35 variants for 13 military services in nine partner countries and two foreign military sales customers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P. Coleman)

Nellis accepts delivery of F-35 with ceremony

The Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard marches towards the stage to post the colors at the F-35A Lighting II arrival ceremony March 19, 2013, in the Thunderbird Hangar at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron will design tactics for the F-35 and determine how to integrate it with other aircraft in the Air Force inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P. Coleman)

Nellis accepts delivery of F-35 with ceremony

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Lofgren, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, provides remarks during the F-35A Lightning II arrival ceremony March 19, 2013, in the Thunderbird Hangar on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron will design the tactics for the F-35A. The squadron will also determine how to integrate the F-35A with other aircraft in the Air Force inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)

F-35 Arrival

(To the right of the nose gear) Maj. Gen. Jeff Lofgren (left), U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, and Brig. Gen. Charles Moore (right), 57th Wing commander, wait to greet the pilots of the two F-35 Lighting IIs that arrived at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 6, 2013. The aircraft are assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron and its modern engine delivers more than 60 percent more thrust than other aircraft of the same weight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)

They're here: F-35 Lightning IIs arrive at Nellis

Two Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft fly over Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., prior to landing March 6, 2013. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation, multirole fighter that’s able to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)

They're here: F-35 Lightning IIs arrive at Nellis

A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II lands at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 6, 2013. The aircraft will be assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron and the aircraft will be used for development test support, force development evaluation, and supporting operational test aircraft at Edwards AFB, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)

Behind the Scenes: Making the Mission Happen

Tech. Sgt. Jason Bischoff, 820th RED HORSE Squadron airborne pavement and equipment operator, communicates with other crew members to remove heavy equipment from a Tunner 60K aircraft loader Nov. 29, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. RED HORSE provides rapid response using the most expedient methods of travel available: airdrop from fixed or rotary-wing aircraft, insert via rotary-wing aircraft, standard airlift and convoy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P. Coleman)

Behind the Scenes: Making the Mission Happen

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Matthew Gaffney, 57th Weapons Squadron loadmaster from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and Norman Metz, 3rd Operations Support Squadron loadmaster from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Ala., inspect the extraction chute attached to heavy construction equipment on a C-17 Globemaster III Nov. 29, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in deployed areas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P. Coleman)

Behind the Scenes: Making the Mission Happen

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert DeSanto, 571st Global Mobility Squadron aerial port supervisor from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., drives a Tunner 60K aircraft loader carrying a track dump Nov. 29, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The mission of the 571st GMS is to rapidly deploy elite mobility teams to provide air mobility infrastructure to meet America's objectives anywhere in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P. Coleman)

Behind the Scenes: Making the Mission Happen

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Gaffney, 57th Weapons Squadron loadmaster from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., monitors construction equipment as it is loaded into a C-17 Globemaster III Nov. 29, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The maximum payload capacity of the C-17 is 170,900 pounds and its maximum gross takeoff weight is 585,000 pounds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P. Coleman)