F-35C Completes First In-Flight Dual Refueling

Two Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II carrier variant test aircraft refueled together with a KC-130 Hercules as part of an F-35 flight test program that will accomplish more than 1,000 flights in 2013.

For the first time, two Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II carrier variant test aircraft refueled together with a Lockheed Martin KC-130 Hercules in the sky above Patuxent River, Md.   The CV aircraft, known as CF-1 and CF-2, completed the milestone as part of an F-35 flight test program that will accomplish more than 1,000 flights this year.  Later this year, Eglin AFB, Fla., will receive its first CV aircraft joining the F-35 pilot and maintainer training program there.

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Lockheed Martin to Move 560 Jobs to Texas from Marietta

Hundreds of Marietta-based Lockheed Martin employees who worked on the F-22 Raptor are having their jobs relocated to Fort Worth, Texas.

Lockheed Martin plans to move 560 salaried jobs from Marietta to its Fort Worth, Texas-based Aeronautics division by March, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram report. Marietta employees affected include engineers, schedulers and persons in administrative positions. They have until Jan. 7 to decide if they plan to move. The employee group affected has been building the F-22 Raptor, and now they’ll be supporting the aircraft, Dallas News reports. Lockheed Martin continues to produce F-16 Fighting Falcons at a low level from the Fort Worth plant. That work has evolved into a support business that includes making modifications to and updating the F-16, Dallas News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram …

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Eglin F-35 Fleet at 20 and Growing

The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet is the fourteenth F-35 to ferry to Eglin Air Force Base this year.

The 20th Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II was delivered Thursday to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to support F-35 pilot and maintainer training taking place on the Emerald Coast.   BF-15, piloted by U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Mike Rountree, left Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 10:39 a.m. CDT en route for a 90 minute ferry flight to Eglin. The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet is the fourteenth F-35 to ferry there this year. BF-15 is now assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 with the host 33d Fighter Wing. Keep up with all the news you care about by subscribing to our free email newsletter, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

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Lift-off for 20th Dyess C-130J

By 2013, Dyess will be the largest Super Hercules operator in the world with a fleet totaling 28 C-130J aircraft.

Lockheed Martin delivered its 20th C-130J Super Hercules to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas on June 12. By 2013, Dyess will be the largest Super Hercules operator in the world with a fleet totaling 28 C-130J aircraft. Brig. Gen. Randy A. Kee, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs at the Pentagon, flew the aircraft to Dyess.

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Chamber Chooses Triple-Option Logo

Get ready to see lots of green, blue and orange in the Cobb business community.

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce unveiled a “tri-link” logo Monday morning. Designed by Marietta marketing boutique 524 Creative, the logo features three interlocking squares in the middle of the Cobb Chamber name. The squares represent the three elements of economic development—retention, recruitment and entrepreneurship—as well as the Chamber’s core functions: The new Cobb Chamber logo is part of a rebranding of the Chamber that includes the tagline “Achieve more.” Scott and April Wright of 524 Creative presented the logo at the Chamber’s First Monday breakfast at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. “The new look and feel had to represent the new vision, be modern, dynamic and bold, and successfully differentiate the Cobb Chamber,” Scott…

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Keep Cobb Beautiful Receives $10K Grant

Keep Cobb Beautiful (KCB) announced that it has received a $10,000 grant from national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, Inc. as part of a nationwide effort sponsored by Waste Management that encourages local solutions that improve community environments.

Children today spend more time indoors, disconnected from the natural world. The results are diseases like obesity and juvenile diabetes, social dysfunction and behavior issues. One solution? Get them into the garden! Keep Cobb Beautiful (KCB)’s winning proposal focuses on expanding its current support of the “Dig ‘n the Dirt” Garden program to start or enhance existing learning gardens at Cobb County schools.  The program currently funds six schools and the goal is to expand the “Dig ‘N the Dirt” Garden program to four additional schools for a total of ten school programs in the 2011-2012 school year.  Applications to receive funding to participate in the program are open to all public, private, and alternative schools in Cobb County.  …

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Layoffs Coming at Lockheed

The layoffs are part of a company plan to reduce the aeronautics workforce by 1,500 this year.