Pics of the day. March 2, 2011.

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- On Feb. 26, 2011, an F-35B test aircraft (BF-2) completed its 100th flight with Lockheed Martin test pilot David "Doc" Nelson at the controls. The 100th flight for BF-2 accomplished further short take-off envelope expansion in preparation for shipboard testing later this year. The F-35B is the Marine Corps variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, which is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings. It is undergoing test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (Headquarters Marine Corps Photo by Andy Wolfe, Lockheed Martin)

A pair of MV-22 Osprey, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 Sea Elk, and VMM-161 Greyhawks, rest on the flight deck as a landing craft, with from Assault Craft Unit 5, exits USS Makin Island to conduct training during Exercise Iron Fist here March 1. This is the first time Osprey have been aboard USS Makin Island. Exercise Iron Fist is a bilateral training exercise between the Japanese Western Army Infantry Regiment, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and several Southern California based Marine units to increase military interoperability and amphibious capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Salvador R. Moreno/Released)