F-35B Hovers for First Time

Update: The F-35B has now accomplished the significant milestone of a vertical landing. Video from some of the testing can be seen here.

A news article at the Marine Times notes that the F-35B, the Marine Corps variant intended to replace the STOVL Harrier, has hovered in flight for the first time.  Flight test programs are built on gradual advances, and as a result the JSF did not land from a hover, though it did a slow speed landing at 70 knots (probably about half the speed of a normal landing).

Like many large military acquisition programs, the F-35 test program has come under increasing criticism for delays and potential cost increases.