F-35 Climatic Testing: Preparing for the Global Fleet

02/16/2015
2015-02-16 The F-35 will be operated by the US and its allies worldwide. The planning from the beginning has been to build and deploy an aircraft to operate within the wide variety of climatic conditions which such a fleet from the outset would encounter. Norway can expect to fly in…

The USAF Warfare Center and Shaping the Future of the Combat Air Force: A Discussion with Major General Silveria

02/16/2015
2015-02-04 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake We had a chance to visit the USAF Warfare Center at Nellis AFB on the 15th and 16th of January. On January 15th, we attended the ceremony for the arrival of the fifth F-35A at Nellis, but the first one fully configured for…

RAF 17(R) Squadron and the UK F-35Bs at Edwards AFB

02/11/2015
2015-02-11 The UK is a key partner in the global F-35 program. And as Group Captain, Paul Godfrey, QBE,  an aviator involved in the introduction of the aircraft into the British forces. has noted: Godfrey has been involved with Typhoon training with the F-22. Based on that experience, Godfrey commented…

Looking Back and Looking Forward With Regard to Fifth Generation Aircraft: Visiting the Weapons School at the USAF Warfare Center

02/08/2015
2015-02-08 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake The first day of our visit to the USAF Warfare Center was defined by the arrival of the first F-35 specifically for the Weapons School. The arrival of the Block 3 aircraft is the first of several which allow the Weapons School to…

The Future of Airpower as Seen from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron

02/07/2015
2015-02-07 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake During our visit to the USAF Warfare Center we had  a chance to sit down with Lt. Col. Benjamin “Bach” Bishop, the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron director of operations, to discuss his experience with the Operational Testing of the F-35, and the…