2012年4月18日,大西洋,美国海军F-35C"闪电"II联合攻击战斗机CF-01和CF-02试验机编队试飞,飞行员是埃里克·布斯(Eric Buus)和马修·泰勒(Matthew Taylor),这两架F-35C由马里兰州帕塔克森特河海军航空站起飞,试飞项目包括编队起飞和降落,CF-02结构载荷,F-35C是美国海军新一代舰载战斗攻击机,相比F-35A和F-35B其拥有更大的机翼面积和增强的起落架,以承受航空母舰上弹射起飞和拦阻索降落的苛刻的使用环境。(ATLANTIC TEST RANGE (April 18, 2012) Cmdr. Eric Buus and Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matthew Taylor fly F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter test aircraft CF-1 and CF-2 on a formation test flight in the Atlantic test range. The test flights included a formation takeoff and landing, and structural loads testing on CF-2. The F-35C carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B variants with its larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear to withstand catapult launches and deck landing impacts associated with the demanding aircraft carrier environment. The F-35C is undergoing test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River prior to delivery to the fleet. )