Boeing X-32B Aircraft Transferred to Pax River Museum

On Thursday, 31 March 2005, the Boeing X-32B (STOVL variant) Joint Strike Fighter Concept Demonstration Aircraft (CDA) was transferred to the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum located beside the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River, Maryland. (Left Photograph). The X-32B joins the Lockheed X-35C (Carrier Variant) previously assigned to the Museum in April 2003. (Right Photograph).  The X-32B and X-35C represent the beginning of the Department of Defense Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program and were utilized very successfully to demonstrate that the JSF preliminary designs were viable which resulted in Lockheed Martin being chosen by the Department of Defense in 2001 to build the F-35 aircraft which consists of three variants of the aircraft for the USAF, the USN, and the USMC.  Two X-32 aircraft were built by Boeing and two X-35 aircraft were built by Lockheed Martin as a part of an earlier contract.  The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum is now the only place in the world where visitors can view and take photos of both aircraft!  The sister ship to the X-35C known as the X-35B (STOVL variant) is on public display in the new Smithsonian Udvar Hazy Museum located near Dulles Airport in Virginia.   The X-32A (USAF/USN Variant) is in storage in California.

The story of the development of the X-32 and X-35 CDA planes was recently featured in the highly acclaimed PBS documentary, the “Battle of the X-Planes”. The X-35C became the first X aircraft to fly across the United States in 2001.   The flight demonstration for the X-35C was extremely successful, with evaluation emphasis on the low speed performance and handling qualities required for the Navy carrier environment.

The flight evaluation for the X-32B at Patuxent River was also extremely successful, with evaluation emphasis on low speed performance and handling qualities in the semi-jetborne flight environment, hover mode, vertical landing, and Short Take-Off and Landing performance.

The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum was started in the early 1970’s and has as its mission to preserve the history that has been and is still being made at Patuxent River involving the Test and Evaluation of all Naval Aircraft. The Museum has approximately 30 test aircraft in the inventory including such famous aircraft as the A-7, AV-8B, A-6, F-4, F-14, F-18 as well as USN and USMC helicopters!  The Museum is open free to the public and open Tuesday through Sunday.   Driving distance from the Washington, D. C. area is approximately 65 miles and the Museum is located on Maryland Route 235 outside the Patuxent Naval Air Station Gate 1.   For additional information, contact the Museum at 301-863-7418 or 1900 or via email at the following:  association@paxmuseum.co                                                    Photos by Joe Dunn