Andrews Air Force Base, Md. -- An F-35C piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Eric "Magic" Buus made a single pass down the show line at the Joint Service Open House at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., May 21, marking the first public appearance of the Joint Strike Fighter at an air show.

The flight represented the future of tactical air power for the U.S. Navy, which commemorates 100 years of naval aviation this year. The F-35C variant is different from the F-35A and F-35B versions with its larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for greater control in the demanding carrier take-off and landing environment.

The flyover originated from the F-35C's primary test site at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and was executed in the same manner as any controlled test sortie. The aircraft flew within its approved flight envelope and was accompanied by an F-18 Hornet flying chase.

Coupled with the May 16 arrival of the second carrier variant, CF-2, and arrival of CF-3 later this year, the F-35C test program is moving forward toward initial carrier suitability testing this year at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program is in the system development and demonstration phase, focusing on delivering three different, new aircraft variants to the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.