The F-35 joint program office lifted a fleetwide grounding, allowing F-35 development aircraft at Edwards AFB, Calif., and NAS Patuxent River, Md., to return to flight, according to JPO spokesman Joe DellaVedova.Officials also lifted the ban for ferry and acceptance flights, allowing de10 livery of F-35As AF-10 and AF-11 from Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Tex., facility to Eglin AFB, Fla., Aug. 31.The JPO grounded the entire F-35 fleet—test and production aircraft—Aug. 3 after the integrated power package, responsible for starting the engine and cooling, malfunctioned on an F-35A test aircraft. Ground operations resumed Aug. 10 and monitored flight operations were authorized Aug. 18.Initial indications pointed to a valve malfunction, though an Air Force Safety Investigation Board was still reviewing the issue in September.
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