In 2001, Lockheed Martin's X-35B Concept Development Aircraft perormed a short-distance take-off, accelerated to supersonic speed in level flight and landed vertically, all in one flight. By doing so, and by passing other tests, the X-35B won Lockheed Martin the prime contractor for the Pentagon's Joint Strike Fighter requirement, the three-member aircraft family that will be the F-35A, F-35B and F-35C Lightning II. Credit: Lockheed Martin
