Having already installed, GE Rolls-Royce expects to begin trial runs of the first F136 development engine for the F-35 JSF on July 23 in the test rig at Evendale, Ohio. In conventional take-off configuration, the F136 will accumulate 200 hours by December, then begin a 200- to 300-hour endurance test early next year. For the STOVL variant of JSF a second engine will assembled later this year for outdoor rig tests in 2005.
