2013年8月20日，大西洋，美国海军陆战队 F-35B“闪电”II 短距/垂直起降型系统发展与验证机在“黄蜂”号两栖攻击舰上进行第二阶段垂直降落试验。（An F-35B test aircraft hovers above the USS Wasp while another operates around the ship in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode on Aug. 20, 2013. The two aircraft were participating in Developmental Test Phase Two for the U.S. Marine Corps STOVL variant of the F-35.）

2013年8月20日，大西洋，美国海军陆战队 F-35B“闪电”II 短距/垂直起降型系统发展与验证机在“黄蜂”号两栖攻击舰上进行垂直降落试验，另一架 F-35B（BF-05）则在空中悬停。（An F-35B test aircraft hovers above the USS Wasp while another operates around the ship in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode on Aug. 20, 2013. The two aircraft were participating in Developmental Test Phase Two for the U.S. Marine Corps STOVL variant of the F-35.）

2013年8月20日，大西洋，美国海军陆战队 F-35B“闪电”II 短距/垂直起降型系统发展与验证机在“黄蜂”号两栖攻击舰上进行垂直降落试验，后面有一架直升机在盘旋担任空中观测机。（An F-35B test aircraft hovers above the USS Wasp while a helicopter supporting F-35B ship trials operates around the ship on Aug. 20, 2013.）

2013年8月20，美国马里兰州东海岸，美国海军 F-35C“闪电”II 舰载型系统发展与验证机首次与空军的 KC-135 进行空中加油。（NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Aug. 23, 2013 – On Aug. 20, an F-35 Lightning II carrier variant (CV) refueled from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 for the first time. 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 refueled from a common tanker platform, despite different methods. The aircraft, known as CF-1, was piloted by Lt. Col. Patrick Moran. Earlier this month, the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101, the Navy's first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft squadron, completed its first flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.）

2013年1月18日，美国马里兰州，美国海军 F-35C“闪电”II 舰载型系统发展与验证机进行首次双机编队空中加油， 加油机是来自 VX-20 空中测试与评估中队的 KC-130R“大力神”空中加油机。（CF-2 Flight 158 with Mr. Dan Canin and CF-1 Flight 189 with LT Chris Tabert on 18 January 2013. First dual refueling of F-35C on KC-130 tanker. Two F-35C Lightning II carrier variant test aircraft refuel together with a Lockheed Martin KC-130 Hercules for the first time in the sky above Patuxent River, Md., in January 2013.）

2013年1月18日，美国马里兰州，美国海军 F-35C“闪电”II 舰载型系统发展与验证机进行首次双机编队空中加油， 加油机是来自 VX-20 空中测试与评估中队的 KC-130R“大力神”空中加油机。照片几乎定格了 KC-130R 的螺旋桨，显示了照相机非常高的快门速度。（NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (Jan. 18, 2013) Two F-35 Lightning II carrier variants completed an aerial refueling for the first time. Test pilots Navy Lt. Christopher Tabert and Dan Canin flew CF-1 and CF-2 respectively, with a KC-130 from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. This was the first dual aerial refueling for the F-35C. The F-35C carrier variant of the Lightning II 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. Initial carrier trials for the F-35C are scheduled for 2014. The F-35C is undergoing flight test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River before delivery to the fleet.）

2012年10月19日，美国德克萨斯州沃思堡，英国空军第二架（BK-2）F-35A“闪电”II 常规起降型联合攻击战斗机交付，同时交付的还有一架美国海军陆战队 F-35B（BF-16）短距/垂直起降型。它们在完成检查后将飞往新家-佛罗里达州埃格林空军基地。（FORT WORTH, Texas, October 19, 2012 – The second United Kingdom Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II takes off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base today for delivery to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Eglin’s eleventh U.S. Marine Corps F-35B ferried to the Emerald Coast with the U.K. jet. The aircraft, known as ZM136 and BF-16, departed at approximately 8:06 a.m. CDT with U.K. Royal Air Force Sqn. Ldr. Jim Schofield and Marine Corps Maj. Adam Levine at the controls, respectively, for the 90-minute ferry flight to Eglin. ZM136 joins the first United Kingdom F-35B, which arrived at the base for operational test and evaluation in July. The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variants are the fifteenth and sixteenth F-35s to ferry to Eglin this year.）

2012年10月19日，美国德克萨斯州沃思堡，英国空军第二架（BK-2）F-35A“闪电”II 常规起降型联合攻击战斗机交付，正在起飞前往其暂时的家-佛罗里达州埃格林空军基地。同时交付的还有一架美国海军陆战队 F-35B（BF-16）短距/垂直起降型。（The second United Kingdom F-35 Lightning II takes off from NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas, for delivery to Eglin AFB, Fla., Oct. 19, 2012.）

2012年10月19日，美国加利福尼亚州中国湖海军航空武器试验场，美国空军第二架（AF-01）F-35A“闪电”II 常规起降型系统发展与验证机开启内部武器舱进行首次 AIM-120 中程空空导弹投射试验，该机由马修·菲利普斯少校驾驶。（An F-35A test aircraft completed the first aerial weapon release of an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) from an F-35 Oct. 19, 2012. The aircraft, known as AF-1, jettisoned the instrumented AIM-120 over the China Lake, Calif., test range from an internal weapons bay. AF-1 / Pilot: Maj Matthew 'Fuze' Phillips/ Flight 255/ Test 434/ AIM-120 Weapon Separation #1）

2012年10月19日，美国加利福尼亚州中国湖海军航空武器试验场，美国空军第二架（AF-01）F-35A“闪电”II 常规起降型系统发展与验证机由马修·菲利普斯驾驶进行首次内部武器舱 AIM-120 中程空空导弹投射试验。（EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct 22, 2012 – An F-35A test aircraft, flown by U.S. Air Force Maj. Matthew Phillips, completed the first aerial weapons release of an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) from a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft, Oct. 19. The aircraft, known as AF-1, jettisoned the instrumented AIM-120 over the China Lake test range from an internal weapons bay. This was the second in-flight weapons release in three days for AF-1 as it completed the release of a 2,000 pound GBU-31 BLU-109 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Oct. 16. The F-35A 5th Generation fighter is designed to carry a payload of up to 18,000 pounds using 10 weapon stations. The F-35A features four internal weapon stations located in two weapon bays to maximum stealth capability. The CTOL aircraft can also utilize an additional three weapon stations per wing if required.）