Lockheed Martin just completed the latest high angle of attack test series. It was a complete success, as this video shows.
The video footage is spectacular, especially that unreal first shot:
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., May 16, 2013 — The latest in a series of Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35A high angle of attack (AOA) testing was recently completed. The testing accomplished high AOA beyond both the positive and negative maximum command limits, including intentionally putting the aircraft out of control in several configurations. This included initially flying in the stealth clean wing configuration. It was followed by testing with external air-to-air pylons and missiles and then with open weapon bay doors. The F-35A began edge-of-the-envelope high AOA testing in the Fall 2012. For all testing, recovery from out of control flight has been 100 per cent successful without the use of the spin recovery chute, which is carried to maximise safety.