VMFA 211 Distributed STOVL Ops with F-35Bs

10/26/2017
10/26/2017: U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 conduct a hot load exercise in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) 2-17 at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., April 13, 2017. [maxgallery id="101800"] Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) conducted the first independent Distributed STOVL Operation (DSO)…

F-35B Hot Loading

10/26/2017
10/26/2017: In a story published by the USMC on September 21, 2017, a recent F-35B hot loading exercise during the WTI course was discussed and highlighted. By Pfc. Ethan Pumphret MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – Hot-loading is when an aircraft lands and has ordnance loaded while the engine is still…

ScanEagle in the Aussie Fleet

10/23/2017
2017-10-23 According to a story published by the Australian Department of Defence on October 12, 2017, the ScanEagle has completed its operational evaluation during an Australian deployment to the Middle East. HMAS Newcastle has conducted the RAN’s first simultaneous operations of manned and unmanned aircraft during its current deployment to…

The UK’s F-35 Integrated Task Force

10/21/2017
2017-10-21 In a piece published September 12, 2017, the UK Ministry of Defence highlighted the role of the F-35 Integrated Task Force. Royal Navy Commander Nathan Gray is a member of the Integrated Test Force alongside other F‑35B Lightning developmental test pilots from the RAF, USN, USMC and industry located in…

Cleared for Take-off from the Queen Elizabeth: F-35s Preparing to Join the RAF in Britain

10/21/2017
2017-10-21  According to a story published October 17, 2017 on the UK Ministry of Defence website, after completing ski-jump exercises at Pax River, the F-35B has been cleared for takeoff from the new HMS Queen Elizabeth. The UK’s cutting-edge F-35 fighter jet is now cleared for take-off from HMS Queen…

VMFA 121 Maintainers: Supporting the F-35B at WTI

10/21/2017
2017-10-21 In a story published by the USMC on October 17, 2017, the key role of maintainers in supporting the sortie rates at WTI was highlighted. By 2nd Lt. Gregory Cronen, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – A correlation between high usage of aircraft and…