Marine Lt. Col. Roger Hardy, Defense Contract Management Agency F-35 Lightning II acceptance pilot, DCMA office, Lockheed Martin, Ft. Worth, Texas, flies safety escort in an F-16 for two F-35 Lightning II pilots. The aviators delivered two new joint strike fighters to Eglin's 33rd Fighter Wing, Oct. 19. (Middle) U.K. Royal Air Force Sqn. Ldr. Jim Schofield flew the second United Kingdom F-35B to Eglin from Naval Air Station Forth Worth Joint Reserve Base. Marine Corps Maj. Adam Levine piloted the eleventh U.S. F-35B to the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. Following the 90-minute ferry flight, Eglin ground crews received the F-35s to prepare them for pilot and maintainer training and for the United Kingdom to conduct operational test and evaluation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.K. Royal Air Force Sqn. Ldr. Jim Schofield touches down in an F-35 Lightning II at Eglin's 33rd Fighter Wing Oct. 19. This second United Kingdom F-35B at Eglin will be imbedded in the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. It will be used for pilot and maintainer training and for the United Kingdom to conduct operational test and evaluation. The F-35 incorporates a wide range of new technologies for stealth, multi-mission capabilities, and sustainability. The U.K. aircraft are imbedded in the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, and are used by both countries to conduct F-35 training. Accompanied by a U.S. F-35B, there are now 13 B variants of the joint strike fighter at the Marine squadron. Combined with the nine A variants flown by the Air Force, Eglin is the largest fleet of F-35s in the world. Later this month, an RAF and RN pilot will begin instructor pilot training, making them the first international pilots trained at Eglin on the fifth-generation, multi-role fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
The first class of United Kingdom Royal Air Force and Royal Navy aircraft maintainers attending courses at the F-35 Academic Training Center, met the F-35B Lightning II flown by U.K. Royal Air Force Sqn. Ldr. Jim Schofield to Eglin Air Force Base. The students took a pause from classes teaching F-35 overview, ground operations and basic maintenance, to celebrate their country receiving its second joint strike fighter at Eglin's 33rd Fighter Wing. The U.K. maintenance training began Oct. 1.

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

F-35 Lightning II United Kingdom fleet increases capability at Eglin

Published Oct. 19, 2012

News Search

ArticleS

F-35 Lightning II United Kingdom fleet increases capability at Eglin