First F-35B Vertical Takeoff Test

An F-35B test aircraft completes its first-ever vertical takeoff (VTO) at NAS Patuxent River, Md., on May 10, 2013. While not a capability used in combat, VTOs are required for repositioning of the STOVL in environments where a jet could not perform a short takeoff. In these cases, the jet, with a limited amount of fuel, would execute a VTO to travel a short distance.

[plapkoki]

The amount of engineering that went into this is unbelievable

Just look how steady it is

[xx]

So it was realistic after all how i started my toy planes as a kid

[bellaxxi]

Keyboard warriors: “the F-35 is bad”

The F-35 hovering outside their house:

[metalrs]

Reminds me of the time I never flew an f-35. Awesome!

[chadguru]

A fixed winged aircraft hovering is the most magnificent thing one can witness.

[gnagyusa]

You just never get tired of watching an aircraft taking off vertically.
And I've been flying helicopters for over 12 years...

[nocluernhaha]

Those things are honestly the coolest jets I've ever seen in real life. There super loud too

[Keln]

The amount of energy required to keep that aircraft hovering must be unbelievable

[JonAlycia]

The computers onboard must be doing so many calcs per second to keep that thing level. Insane.

[true_perplexeus]

Me: wow technology is really advancing

Also me: oh, this video is seven years old

[EverybodysEnoch]

I had to replay it multiple times to re-experience the amazement. They even added a "Most replayed" section (nicely done).

[natedb]

I went to the DC air show a few years ago and they were flying these…. Freaking unbelievable

[Biobele]

imagine how many alien Spaceship sightings this bad boy must have been responsible for

[copywriter]

Incoming Aviation Engineers from the University of YouTube comment sections tells you how bad the F-35 is

[jefferyyoder]

I'm proud to say I work supporting these birds!

[TrickyS]

You don't actually need a runway to take off or land this machine. This is awesome

[crowdercref]

It's a beautiful piece of engineering.

[nityasingh]

I remember taking off for the first time from Michael's house

[Rena]

It's crazy how this technology has been a thing for more than 20 years yet many people haven't heard about it

Edit: Please stop saying VTOL technology is 60 years old. I know. I get it, but I was referring to the F-35 being about 20+ years old

[kevinduliesco]

"float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee"

Applies well on this plane