By Robbin Laird One way to remember December 7, 1941 is to go back to the actual day and recall the events. December 7, 1941 dawned an ordinary Sunday for now-retired Lt. James "Jim" Downing and hearing his recount of the day is a very important way to remember the…
By Robbin Laird The F-35 is termed a fifth-generation platform, but is better understood as a first generation flying combat system. Or a next generation capability or foundation for building a C2/ISR infrastructure for the integrated distributed force. Because the F-35 is being stood up worldwide with both the U.S.…
Given that the USAF is having to relearn mobile basing and are flying the same aircraft as the USMC (although the the USAF for now is not following the recommendation of an earlier COS of the USAF that they acquire F-35Bs), it is not surprising to find USAF pilots onboard…
By Robbin Laird The Italians have had a number of firsts with regard to the F-35 global enterprise. As I wrote in 2015: At the beginning of the 20th Century, Italy was a pioneer in combat aviation. Although different at the beginning of the 21st century, Italy has again emerged…
Blue Flag Exercise 2019 was conducted in Israel and the Israeli F-35s were involved for the first time in a Blue Flag exercise. ISRAEL 11.13.2019 Video by Airman 1st Class Alex Miller 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
It's mission complete for the F-35 II's after they completed their first combat deployment and returned home to Hill Air Force Base. The 5th generation fighter continues to fly missions out of Al Dhafra Air Base in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 10.25.2019 Video by Capt. Amanda…
By Yaakov Lappin Israel completed its fourth international air exercise in southern Israel, Blue Flag 2019, earlier this month – a drill that planners have described as being the most advanced of its kind to date. Towards the end of the exercise, held from Nov. 3 to Nov. 14 at…
Edwards Air Force Base, California, said farewell to six of its F-35 Lightning II’s in October. The F-35s were transferred to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to continue initial operational testing. The 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, a tenant unit at Edwards, recently completed their portion of the mission of…
