Centerfield STOVL Facility

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The Centerfield STOVL (Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing) facility was completed in 2009 and comprises three sections designed to support the developmental testing of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F-35B STOVL aircraft.

The first section is representative of an AM-2 Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) pad over a central grated Hover Pit, designed to evaluate the F-35B's short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities. The in-ground hover pit allows full-power engine operations without ground effects by ducting exhaust thrust away from the aircraft through a series of vanes below the top grating of the pit.

The second and third sections consist of mock vessel configurations from which the F-35B will operate with the US Marine Corps and Royal Navy. Twin representative Wasp Class LHA deck outlines are used to evaluate the F-35B's capabilities with vertical landing and short takeoff operations from the US Navy vessels, while a full-scale Invincible Class Aircraft Carrier deck outline and ski jump are used to evaluate the aircraft's capabilities from Royal Navy vessels.

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