Assigned To 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack
Training Squadron 501
The first two production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical
landing (STOVL) aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps
Wednesday. The two jets are now assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft
Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 residing with
the host 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, FL.
The aircraft, known as BF-6 and BF-8, flew separately arriving
at 3:13 p.m. and 4:39 p.m. CST respectively after their approximate
90-minute ferry flights from Fort Worth, Texas. U.S. Marine Corps
Maj. Joseph Bachmann piloted BF-6 while U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col.
Matt Taylor flew BF-8. Both 5th Generation fighters will be used
for pilot and maintainer training at the new F-35 Integrated
Training Center.
"Today marks the beginning of a new era of advanced capabilities
for the U.S. Marine Corps," said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin's
F-35 program executive vice president and general manager. "The
F-35B's versatility, as demonstrated onboard the USS WASP (LHD-1)
last fall, will revolutionize our nation's expeditionary combat
power in all threat environments by allowing operations from major
bases, damaged airstrips, remote locations and a wide range of
air-capable ships. This aircraft will give our warfighters the
ability to accomplish their mission, wherever and whenever duty
calls."
F-35 STOVLs met many critical milestones in 2011. In October,
F-35Bs conducted their first set of ship trials, known as
Developmental Test 1, 20 miles off the coast of Wallops Island, Va.
During the 19-day testing period, BF-2 and BF-4 conducted 72
vertical landings and short takeoffs, accomplishing all test
milestones during the mission. For the year, F-35Bs accomplished
333 System Development and Demonstration test flights and 268
vertical landings.
BF-6 and BF-8 are the first two F-35 deliveries to the
Department of Defense in 2012 and the seventh and eighth F-35
aircraft delivered to Eglin AFB since July 2011. Previously, six
U.S. Air Force F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jets
were delivered to the base.
The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining
advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor
information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.
Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16
for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18
and AV-B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of
fighters for at least nine other countries. (Photo provided by
Lockheed Martin)