PHOTO: F-35C arrives at Patuxent River

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101106-N-0000X-001 PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (Nov. 6, 2010) The first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant, the U.S. Navy's first stealth fighter, arrived at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2:37 p.m. EST. The aircraft, piloted by David "Doc" Nelson, departed Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 11:31 a.m. EST and achieved successful air refuels at a maximum load of 19,800 pounds during the flight. At Patuxent River, the F-35C will conduct air-to-air refueling and performance testing. (Photo provided courtesy of Lockheed Martin/Released)

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US Navy to keep some P-3Cs beyond replacement date

Despite the planned replacement of the US Navy's P-3C Orion fleet by Boeing's P-8 Poseidon, a small number of Orions will be kept in service for the US Navy's special missions. The Orions were originally planned to by fully replaced by 2019.

First F-35C arrives at Pax River

Flightglobal brings you photos and video of the first F-35C Lightning II carrier-borne JSF to arrive at Patuxent River in Maryland for flight testing. The aircraft also carried out four successful mid-air refuelling from a KC-130 during its ferry flight from Texas.

US Navy overcomes mass P-3C grounding scare

The US Navy has quietly overcome a grounding scare that programme officials now acknowledge brought the Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion fleet "to its knees" only 12 months ago. Inspections in 2009 had revealed structural damage that led to the grounding of all but 49 of 120 combat-coded Orions by September.

PHOTO: T-45 Goshawk in a pre-World War II paint scheme

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101029-N-3951P-001 KINGSVILLE, Texas (Oct. 29, 2010) A T-45 Goshawk training aircraft painted in a pre-World War II tactical aircraft paint scheme flies over Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. The plane is one of nine training command aircraft being painted in celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Gabe Pincelli/Released)

PHOTO: Shadowhawks CAG Growler lands on USS George H.W. Bush

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101023-N-3737T-426 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 23, 2010) An EA-18G Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 lands during flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is underway conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric Tretter/Released)

Joint US-S Korean naval exercise called off

A joint naval exercise between the United States and South Korea involving the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington has been called off. South Korean media reports that the cancellation might be to avoid tensions on the Korean peninsula during the upcoming G20 summit in Seoul in mid November.

P-8A launches first sonobuoys

The US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command has announced that the P-8A Poseidon test aircraft has completed several sonobuoy launches on Friday, October 15. This event marks the first time the Poseidon has launched sonobuoys.

PHOTO: USS Abraham Lincoln sails in a tropical lightning storm

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101008-N-4856N-012 STRAIT OF MALACCA (Oct. 8, 2010) Lighting flashes as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) transits the Strait of Malacca. Abraham Lincoln is underway on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th and U.S. 5th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Colby K. Neal/Released)

GAU-21 machine gun deploys on UH-1Y

The Navy and Marine Corps newest .50 caliber weapon system, the GAU-21, began its initial deployment with UH-1Y helicopters in September. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA-169) is the first squadron to deploy with GAU-21 mounted on the UH-1Y Hueys.

PHOTO: VAQ-131 Lancers CAG bird launches from the Lincoln

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101001-N-2821G-130 PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 1, 2010) An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the Lancers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), with Capt. John D. Alexander, commanding officer of Abraham Lincoln, aboard the aircraft as an electronic countermeasure officer. VAQ-131 is part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, which is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts to establish conditions for regional stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg/Released)

PHOTO: HMM-262 CH-53E Sea Stallion takes off from USS Essex

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100927-N-5538K-153 PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 27, 2010) A CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 262, takes off from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway in the western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl/Released)

Boeing receives US Navy contract for 124 aircraft

Boeing has been awarded a new multi-year procurement contract valued at US$5.3b from the U.S. Navy for 124 new jets. Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing will deliver 66 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and 58 EA-18G Growlers to the Navy from 2012 through 2015.

PHOTO: AV-8B Harrier jet on USS Essex at Valiant Shield

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100920-N-5538K-224 PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 20, 2010) Marine aviation ordnancemen move away from a AV-8B Harrier jet aircraft after arming a GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bomb on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is participating in Valiant Shield 2010, a joint-service exercise designed to enhance interoperability between U.S. forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl/Released)

PHOTO: Ex Jackal Stone 2010.

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100917-N-5483N-033 BALTIC SEA (Sept. 17, 2010) A Lithuanian MI-8 (Hip) military utility helicopter lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) during deck landing qualification training as part of exercise Jackal Stone 2010 (JS10). JS10 is a 10-day special operations exercise intended to promote cooperation and interoperability between participating forces from Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, and the United States. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sylvia Nealy/Released)

PHOTO: EA-6B Prowler CAG

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100915-N-9520G-005 OAK HARBOR, Wash. (Sept. 15, 2010) An EA-6B Prowler assigned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island taxis down the flight line after completing flight operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardel Gervacio/Released)

PHOTO: Blue Angels at the Airpower Over the Midwest air show

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100911-N-4128S-052 SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (Sept. 11, 2010) The U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, perform aerial maneuvers over Scott Air Force Base during the Airpower Over the Midwest air show as part of St. Louis Navy Week. St. Louis Navy Week is one of 19 Navy Weeks planned across America for 2010. Navy Weeks show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joseph Seavey/Released)

Lincoln Strike Group conducts training

The USS Abraham Lincoln and Carrier Strike Group 9 (CSG 9) is carrying out a series of training exercises while transiting westward following their departure for a scheduled cruise to the 5th and 7th Fleets area of responsibility.

NORAD considered shooting down errant Fire Scout

Not too surprising, but it is reported that the US military considered shooting down the US Navy Fire Scout UAV that stopped responding to control inputs in August while undergoing flight testing near Washington DC.

PHOTO: CH-53E lands during the 31st MEU Air Combat Element fly-on

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100907-N-5215E-056 SEA OF JAPAN (Sept. 7, 2010) A CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter lands during the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) Air Combat Element fly-on aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is conducting a patrol in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew A. Ebarb/Released)