A third phase of F-35 Lightning II developmental test (DT-3) flight trials aboard U.K. Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers concluded over the weekend when two short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL) test jets launched from the HMS Prince of Wales (R09) ski jump following almost four weeks of flight test off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. 
 
A Patuxent River F-35 Integrated Test Force (PAX ITF) detachment and two F-35Bs completed DT-1 and DT-2 aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) in 2018. These sea trials happened during the ship’s ongoing autumn deployment to the Western Atlantic for WESTLANT 23, which encompasses a range of U.K. and U.S. naval aircraft trials. 
 
The flight test on HMS Prince of Wales, Britain’s biggest warship, was conducted to gather data that will inform recommendations that could result in increased operational capability for the 65,000-tonne ship, for QEC carriers, and for the fifth-generation joint strike fighter aircraft. 
 
During October and early November, three test pilots flying two specially instrumented F-35B aircraft performed close to 150 short takeoffs (STOs), approximately four score vertical landings (VLs), and almost 60 shipborne rolling vertical landings (SRVLs), while PAX ITF flight test engineers collected data, compared it to models, and made initial analyses. 
 
“The last four weeks at sea have been the busiest HMS Prince of Wales has ever seen,” said Royal Navy Capt. Richard Hewitt, the ship’s commanding officer. “Watching the F-35B perform the first ever night SRVL was amazing and a real testament to the integration of the F-35 team and my ship’s company. 

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