This Lockheed Martin F-35 A 'Lightning II' is taxiing for takeoff on runway 03R at Luke AFB, in Glendale, Arizona. Luke AFB has been selected as the primary training center for the Air Force version of the F-35. The Lockheed Martin F-35 'Lightning II' is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multi-role fighters. This fifth generation combat aircraft is designed to perform ground attack and air defense missions. The F-35 A, the Air Force version, is designed for conventional takeoff and landings (CTOL). The U.S. Marine Corps version, the F-35 B, is designed for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) and the F-35 C, the Navy's version, features larger wings with foldable wingtip sections, larger wing and tail control surfaces for improved low-speed control, stronger landing gear for the stresses of carrier arrested landings, a twin-wheel nose gear, and a stronger tailhook for use with carrier arrestor cables. A 1/2 ton of rare earth (metals) are used in each F-35 to operate its various systems. Rare earth (metals) are found on the periodic table nos. 21. 39, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, and 71 are common throughout the world but difficult to mine and often very toxic on the environment. Some of these rare earth (metals) are used in weapons systems, lasers, magnets, TVs, fluorescent lamps, fiber optics, and stainless steel. China is currently the major supplier of these metals. Specifications for the F-35 A Crew: 1 Length: 50.5-ft (15.67 m) Wingspan: 35-ft (10.7 m) Height: 14.2-ft (4.33 m) Empty weight: 29,098 lb (13,199 kg) Loaded weight: 49,540 lb (22,470 kg) Max takeoff weight: 70,000 lb (31,800 kg) Power plant: 1 x Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan Dry thrust: 28,000 lb Thrust with afterburner: 43,000 lb Performance: Max speed: Mach 1.6+ (1,200 mph, 1,930 km/h) Range: >1,200 nmi (2,200 km) on internal fuel Thrust/weight: with full fuel 0.87 with 50% fuel 1.07 Armament: Guns: 1 x General Dynamic 25 mm (0.984 in) GAU-22/A, a four-barrel rotary cannon internally mounted with 182 rounds. External hard-points are used for a variety of external weapons such as cruise missiles, guided bombs and external fuel. These are at the expense of an increased radar cross-section, and thus reduced stealth. The F-35 is louder than the F-16, but noise contours at Luke AFB are based on the F-15. This picture was taken on 21 October 2015, Sig...