Hess, Industry Leaders Urge End to Sequestration at West Palm Beach Rally

Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky, in conjunction with the Aerospace Industries Association, hosted a "Second to None" rally for more than 300 employees on Wednesday in West Palm Beach, Fla. The rally highlighted the critical contribution of the aerospace and defense industry to the U.S. economy and spread the word about the potential impact of budget sequestration.

The speaking program included U.S. Rep. Allen West of Florida, Pratt & Whitney President David Hess, Tom Burbage, executive vice president and general manager, Joint Strike Fighter Program Integration, Lockheed Martin and Scott Starrett, vice president, Washington Operations & Government Business Development, Sikorsky, all of whom were joined on stage by 50 U.S. veterans. The veterans, who are also Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky employees, were publicly recognized for their military service by each of the speakers, and by their fellow employees. Hess, who also serves as chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association, urged employees to join the fight against sequestration by contacting their elected officials.

"Massive sequestration budget cuts are a threat to American jobs, the economy and U.S. national security," Hess said. "We need you, our employees, to raise your voices loud and clear, and tell our elected officials that what we need is an alternative to sequestration that keeps us on the path of continued job creation, growth and innovation."

Click here to read the full text of Dave Hess' speech. 

Coverage:

• Interview With Florida Representative Allen West (FOX News)
• Defense firms may issue layoff warnings despite US guidance (Reuters)
• Pratt workers aim at defense-spending cuts (Sun Sentinel)
• Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin and Aerospace Industries Association opposing budget cuts (WPTV)

F-35 Performs First Night Flight

Video Credit: Lockheed Martin

This video from Lockheed Martin shows the first night flight in the history of the F-35 Program. (The flight was completed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.) Watch this clip and see the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine at work!

Coverage:

• F-35 performs first night flight (Flight International)
• Night flights commence for F-35 (Marine Corps Times)
• Stunning Pictures Of The F-35's First Night Flight (Business Insider)
• F-35 Conducts First Night Flight As Tests Continue (Ottawa Citizen)
  

Lockheed Martin: F-35 Program Exceeds 2011 Flight Test Goals

Lockheed Martin announced this week that the F-35 flight test program exceeded its goals for 2011. The System Development and Demonstration program flew 972 flights and verified 7,823 test points, against a plan of 872 flights and 6,622 test points.

The F-35 is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine.

Click here to read the Lockheed Martin press release.

Coverage:

• Lockheed touts F-35 milestones (The Hill)
  

Lockheed Martin Delivers First Two Marine Corps F-35s to Eglin

[Video credit: Lockheed Martin, via YouTube]

Lockheed Martin reports that the first two production model F-35B short takeoff / vertical landing aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps on Jan. 11. The aircraft - BF-6 and BF-8 - arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., after ferry flights from Fort Worth, Texas.

The F-35 is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine.

Click here to read the Lockheed Martin press release.

Coverage:

• Lockheed delivers first two F-35Bs to training base (Flight International)
• Marine Corps welcomes first F-35B aircraft to its fleet (DVIDS)
• First F-35Bs arrive at Eglin AFB for training (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
• Marines receive first F-35 fighter planes (The Hill)