The F-35 is already part of the USMC combat force. It will join the USAF later this year. And next year the F-35C will come to the carrier air wing. In contrast to the constant barrage of chants from the Greek Chorus of program critics, the program is rapidly maturing.…
2016-03-03 By Robbin Laird A key argument for buying newer platforms compared to older ones is the savings built into a new platform over the operational and logistics costs of the older platform. In the commercial airplane business, both Boeing and Airbus design and build their newest platforms with significant…
03/06/2016: Four EA-6B Prowlers assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Prowler Squadrons (VMAQT-1, VMAQ-2, 3, and 4) conduct a “Final Four” division flight near Cherry Point, N.C., March. 1, 2016. The 4 Prowlers flew together one last time before the official retirement of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1…
2016-03-05 According to a story published February 17, 2016 on the French Ministry of Defense website, the French A400Ms are starting to provide support directly from French territory to Gao in Mali. [maxgallery id="85414"] On February 15, 2016, an A400M flew directly from the Orleans base to the regional capital…
2016-03-05 According to a story on the French Ministry of Defense website, the combination of Reapers and Harfangs have exceeded 15,000 operational hours during the Operation Barkhane. The RPA squadron Belfort deployed in early 2013, and now has flown more than 15,000 hours with its RPAs. The French Squadron operates two…
2016-03-05 According to an article published by Edwards AFB on 2/24/2016: A Dutch F-35A Lightning II will touch down on home soil for the first time for environmental compatibility trials this spring according to a Royal Netherlands Air Force release. [caption id="attachment_85353" align="alignnone" width="300"] Two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A…
2016-03-05 The F-35 Integrated Test Force is based at Pax River and Edwards AFB and is a completely integrated test effort. In our interview with Andrew Mack, ITF chief test engineer, at Pax River, he discussed how integrated the two teams were in practice> We talk and work together every…
2016-03-05 Lt. Cmdr. Daniel “Tonto” Kitts, an F-35 Lightning II test pilot assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, landed in the history books Feb. 10, 2016, when he performed the first arrestment of an F-35C with external weapons. Flight 282 of aircraft CF-03…
