US Navy test pilot Cmdr. Tony Wilson made the first arrested landing of the F-35C Lightning II on an aircraft carrier on 3 November 2014. Wilson landed F-35C test aircraft CF-3 at 12:18 p.m. local time aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) underway at sea in the Pacific Ocean. He caught the number-three arresting wire. The arrested landing is part of initial at-sea developmental testing for the F-35C, which expected to last two weeks. During the testing, the F-35 Lightning II Integrated Test Force at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, has scheduled test pilots flying test aircraft CF-3 and CF-5 to perform a variety of operational maneuvers, including catapult takeoffs. The testing will also include general maintenance and fit tests for the aircraft and support equipment as well as simulated maintenance operations.
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