Navy readies for first F-35 carrier landing

[nitpicker]

http://www.stripes.com/news/navy-readies-for-first-f-35-carrier-landing-1.309808

Navy readies for first F-35 carrier landing
By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: October 23, 2014

ABOARD THE USS NIMITZ — Before the Navy’s oldest active aircraft carrier docks for a 16-month maintenance period, it’s helping other ships get ready for deployment, and next month, will host the first landing of the F-35C on a carrier.

The Marine version of the Joint Strike Fighter, the short-takeoff, vertical-landing F-35B, has made successful landings aboard ships at sea. But the Navy’s version, the F-35C, which is designed to land on carriers, has not — in part because of problems with the tail hook.
The landing test will take place on the Nimitz after the conclusion of the current task group exercise, which began Monday off San Diego and includes U.S. guided missile cruisers and guided missile destroyers as well as four Canadian ships and a Yokosuka-based Japanese ship.
(snip)

[underpants]

1. Oh, this should go well

I hope it does but so far everything about this program has been a mess

[sarisataka]

2. Any reason they are using a carrier

that is already scheduled for maintenance to land this plane?

[Half-Century Man]

3. They installed the New BFN system?

Big fucking net.