7/5/2012 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- F-35 tail number AF-1 underwent stores static ejection testing at the F-22 Combined Test Force for the past three weeks. The aircraft is carefully positioned over a pit filled with foam, and instrumented inert weapons are released from the aircraft. This type of testing, also known as pit testing, allows the engineers to evaluate how the aircraft is physically affected by the release of the weapon, as well as the how the onboard stores management computers work. Pit testing is a pre-requisite to in-flight weapons release testing. The F-35 CTF tested both a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and an Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).