# I Saw a JSF F-35 Fly Overhead This Afternoon

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-jsf-f-35-fly-overhead-this-afternoon/705323>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 22, 2014, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-jsf-f-35-fly-overhead-this-afternoon/705323 "2014-11-22T05:40:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-jsf-f-35-fly-overhead-this-afternoon/705323/1 "2014-11-22T05:40:31Z")

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It was landing, it was low and slow, and I got a great look at it. I’m certain it was the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

Image: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/CF-1\_flight\_test.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/CF-1_flight_test.jpg)

Very cool to see.

My office building in downtown Sunnyvale, CA is along the glide path for planes landing at Moffett Field. My window faces Moffett, and I’ve seen some interesting planes fly overhead as they land. I first heard it as it passed overhead, not in view, and then I saw it out the window, not far away.

Apparently it’s still in test and won’t be operational until late 2015.

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**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-jsf-f-35-fly-overhead-this-afternoon/705323/2 "2014-11-22T05:59:53Z")

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Here’s another picture, this one’s a USMC variant escorted by two F/A-18s:

[http://www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/newsphoto/2012-01/hires\_120111-F-jz907-002.jpg](http://www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/newsphoto/2012-01/hires_120111-F-jz907-002.jpg)

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**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-jsf-f-35-fly-overhead-this-afternoon/705323/3 "2014-11-23T08:35:17Z")

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And it’s **loud** , isn’t it?

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**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-jsf-f-35-fly-overhead-this-afternoon/705323/4 "2014-11-23T08:41:02Z")

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It is loud, yes. I heard it before I could see it.