Israel and F-35 Production: Building New Pilot Helmets

10/18/2013
2013-10-18 According to Israeli sources, Israel will build helmets for the F-35 program. An Israeli company has been selected to take part in manufacturing hi-tech helmets for pilots of the US F-35 stealth fighter, Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said. He said in a statement that Elbit Systems and its…

A USAF Perspective on the F-35 Combat Systems

10/12/2013
2013-10-12 In a USAF overview on the F-35 published in late September, some key elements of the combat systems of the aircraft and the fleet were highlighted by 33rd Fighter Wing personnel. Lt. Col. Anthony Pelkington is the 33rd FW chief of safety and was one of the first of…

Japan and F-35 Production

10/04/2013
2013-10-04 In addition to building a Final Assembly Line similar to the one in Italy, Japanese firms are building parts for the global supply chain. According to an October 3, 2013, UPI story: The Japanese government has confirmed three domestic companies will manufacture parts for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II…

Declaring IOC for the F-35B and Going to Japan: Lt. Col. Gillette Discusses the Approach

09/29/2013
2013-09-29 During the visit of Secretary Wynne to the 33rd Fighter Wing, we accompanied him on the visit and add some meetings of our own. Among the most notable of those additional meetings was an opportunity to sit down with two USMC leaders in the process of the roll out of…

Visiting the 33rd Fighter Wing: An Overview and Update on the F-35 Program

09/29/2013
2013-09-29  By Robbin Laird On September 4th Secretary Wynne visited the 33rd Fighter Wing for an update on the F-35 program as seen from the training facility.  Ed Timperlake and I accompanied him and added some meetings of our own, notably with maintainers and USMC squadron leaders. https://www.sldinfo.com/secretary-wynne-visits-the-33rd-fighter-wing/ We have…

Depot Level Maintenance of the F-35

09/28/2013
2013-09-28 Several hundred people gathered today in hangar 237 to witness the first F-35A Lightning II which arrived for depot level maintenance during a ceremony hosted by the Ogden Air Logistics Complex commander, Maj. Gen. H. Brent Baker Sr. The ceremony addressed Hill's key role in the depot repair and…

Visiting the Ready Room of VMFAT501: Leveraging Combat Experience to Prepare the F-35B for Deployment

09/26/2013
2013-09-26 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake During the visit of Secretary Wynne to the 33rd Fighter Wing, we accompanied him on the visit and added some meetings of our own. Among the most notable of those additional meetings was an opportunity to sit down with two USMC leaders in the…