Three Lockheed Martin F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft were officially delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps during ceremonies at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., on November 20. The three jets are assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 residing with the host Marine Aircraft Group 13. “For more than 50 years, it has been our mission to support the Marine Corps mission, and | Read More »
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., Nov. 5, 2012 – The Integrated Training Center (ITC) here completed its 500th combined local sortie for both the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) and F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft Friday. Flight operations for the F-35 began on the Emerald Coast March 6. There are currently 22 F-35s at Eglin as the fleet continues to grow | Read More »
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh, III, visited the F-35 Lightning II factory in Fort Worth, Texas on Oct. 22, 2012. Check out the video below to see the highlights of Gen. Welsh’s tour of the factory, and be sure to visit F35.com for more information on the Joint Strike Fighter program.
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct 17, 2012 – An F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft, completed the first in-flight weapons release of a 2,000 pound GBU-31 BLU-109 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) from a 5th Generation fighter, Oct. 16. The flight was conducted by U.S. Air Force Maj. Matthew Phillips. The aircraft, known as AF-1, jettisoned an instrumented GBU-31 over the China Lake | Read More »
There is an interesting article in Popular Mechanics this week that examines how Russian defense technology has moved towards increasing their anti-stealth capabilities in recent years. Some Russian defense experts are even claiming their newer systems may have the ability to combat even the stealthiest American fighter jets–including the F-35 Lightning II. The article provides details of the various stealth features of the F-35 compared | Read More »
The world’s first two fifth generation fighter jets, the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II, flew together for the first time anywhere on Wednesday morning. Click here for a full slideshow of the flight, and visit F35.com for more information on the F-35 program! (Photos by Maj. Karen Romanov and Msgt Jeremy Lock)
This week marked a major milestone for the F-35 at Eglin Air Force Base, as Air Force officials began Operational Utility Evaluation (OUE) for the aircraft, a big step toward beginning pilot and maintenance training for the service. The review should last approximately 65 days, and will involve two fighter pilots from the 33rd Fighter Wing. From Eglin’s release: “The start of the OUE is | Read More »
In a promising sign of continued progress on the F-35 program, test pilots have completed their 200th sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, according to coverage on Flight Global. From the article: US Marine Corps Maj Joseph Bachmann, a test pilot assigned to VMFAT-501, flew Eglin’s 200th sortie with the type on 24 August. Bachmann was instructing one the unit’s transitioning pilots, USMC Maj Mike | Read More »
The F-35 Lightning II accomplished a significant test milestone Aug. 8 when the aircraft successfully released a weapon in flight. BF-3, a short take-off and vertical landing F-35 variant, released an inert 1,000-pound GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) separation weapon over water in an Atlantic test range while traveling at 400 knots at an altitude of 4,200 feet. “While this weapons separation test is | Read More »
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley announced recently that Luke Air Force Base, in Glendale, Arizona has been chosen as the location of the Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II pilot training center. The base is set to receive 72 aircraft for a total of three fighter squadrons. “This is a great day for Luke,” said Brig. Gen. JD Harris, 56th Fighter Wing commander. “Our selection for | Read More »
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