04/26/2015: The first-ever Australian F-35 pilot recently completed his last training flight, marking the end of his flight training at the Academic Training Center on Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, F-35 Lightning II student pilot, completes his final training mission after…
2015-04-25 By an historical anomaly more than strategic planning, the USMC and the RAAF find themselves in similar situations in one key regard: both are undergoing fundamental modernization of their air platforms, and are approaching the re-set not from a platform-centric mentality but a transformation approach. Prior to the airpower…
2015-04-11 According to a story on the Norwegian Ministry of Defence website published on 4/8/15: In 2015 one of Europe’s largest fighter jet exercise is to take place in the Nordic countries, with Norway as lead nation. [caption id="attachment_76541" align="alignnone" width="300"] Norwegian F16s taxiing for take off. Credit: Norwegian MOD.[/caption]…
2015-03-19 By Robbin Laird The RAF is undergoing two fighter aircraft transitions at the same time. On the one hand, the Tornado is being retired and the Typhoon is subsuming its missions. On the other hand, the F-35B is coming to the fleet and will be working with Typhoon for…
03/25/2015: In this video from the Australian Ministry of Defence, an Australian pilot describes his first flight of an Australian F-35 at Luke AFB. He described the plane as easy to fly and the experience very symmetrical with his training on the simulator. His main concern was not falling off…
2015-03-22 This video includes several shots of the operation of the F-35C as well as the F-35B operating off of the Nimitz and the WASP. The ability to operate from the sea provides a significant capability to enhance the overall effects from combined land and sea airpower. The video has…
2015-03-13 By Robbin Laird I have had the opportunity to track the evolution of the Osprey from seeing a small number of planes on the tarmac at New River to watching it mature and revolutionize the assault force. It is clear that the F-35B will have a similar trajectory with…
2015-03-20 By Robbin Laird During my first visit to the Final Assembly Line of the F-35 since 2012, I was able to visit the line and see a number of changes. I also had a number of interviews which provided updates as well. The first interview with Dr. Mike Skaff,…
