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.）

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.）

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.）

2012年8月17日，美国加利福尼亚州爱德华兹空军基地，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瑞恩·莱因哈特驾驶进行机翼颤振飞行试验，以确保飞机的结构能够经受住各种气动载荷，测试结果显示F-35战机可在1.6马赫的速度下开启或关闭武器舱门。（EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Feb 11, 2013 – An F-35A Lightning II conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, known as AF-1, completed its final test mission for clean wing flutter recently. Flutter testing was conducted to ensure the jet’s structure could withstand various aerodynamic loads verifying the F-35A’s design. The mission, flown by Maj. Ryan “Gunner” Reinhardt, marks the conclusion of three years of testing that now allows the F-35A to proceed with tests continuing to expand its flight envelope and validate predictions in real-world scenarios. The testing demonstrated the F-35 is clear of flutter, at speeds up to 1.6 Mach and 700 knots with weapon bay doors open or closed, critical to performing its combat mission. Data collected proves the F-35A flight dynamics maintains a large margin between its designed airspeed and airspeeds where possible flutter could occur.）

2012年2月28日，美国马里兰州帕塔克森特河海军航空站，美国海军陆战队第二架（BF-02）F-35B“闪电”II 系统发展与验证机进行垂直起降测试。（F-35 Lightning II Program Surpasses 5,000 Flight Hours，FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 3, 2012 – The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II program surpassed 5,000 flight hours last month. This milestone was reached by the combined F-35 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) aircraft flying at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and the training aircraft flying at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. All three variants, the F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL), the Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) and Carrier Variant (CV), participated in achievement of this goal.）

2011年5月21日，美国马里兰州安德鲁斯空军基地，美国海军第二架（CF-02）F-35C“闪电”II 舰载型系统发展与验证机由埃里克·布斯中尉驾驶在航展日飞越巨大的 C-5 战略运输机。这是联合攻击战斗机首次在航展上公开亮相。（ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (May 21, 2011) An aircraft carrier variant of the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter flies over Andrews Air Force Base, Md., during the Joint Service Open House. This is the first public appearance of a joint strike fighter aircraft at an air show. Lt. Cmdr. Eric Buus piloted the aircraft. The F-35C is a fifth generation strike fighter with stealth capability and has larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for the demanding carrier environment. The aircraft is undergoing test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.）