I think you're off by a few. By the end of 2009, the production of all 19 F-35 test aircraft will be complete and test activities will lead to initial Operational Test & Evaluation by 2013/2014.
The first production F-35 should be at Edwards by the end of the year for test. At the moment, they are still testing the AA-1 (pre-production test aircraft). Supposedly, it is still in the early parts of its test program and they've not yet tested the weapons bay doors in flight, only on the ground, nor tested supersonic flight.
Check out the April 2009 Flight Journal for more info. There is a lot of info "out there" regarding what it can and can't do. It does have a mission, but it's not an air superiority fighter. Any airplane that is designed to do everything is a compromise. The F-22 is an absolute air superiority fighter to replace the now decades old F-15. The F-15, while an amazing airplane, is probably finally out matched by the newest Sukhois.
Is the Government saying future wars will all be local and small? Then the question what plane would you wish to have?
My thinking is along the lines of a A-10”Warthog”. Rock solid and agile!
I may be a year or so off on when production will be ready. I apologize for not having all the facts. Most of what I read about the F-35 was last year and I’m going off my memory here. I’m just very wary of any defense project when it’s biggest defense is that there are a lot of jobs at stake. You might be right, but I’m going to hold my powder until I read more about this. There have been many times in the past when weapons systems have been forced on services for bad reasons. Remember the Sgt York? If not, read about stupid weapons systems that we should have never spent a dime on.