Video: Marine Corps Welcomes First F-35B Aircraft to Yuma

Video: Marine Corps Welcomes First F-35B Aircraft to Yuma, Ariz. 16 Nov 2012

http://www.dvidshub.net/video/191080/ma ... KcHfb64bF8

"The Marine Corps welcomed its first operational F-35B aircraft, the Marine Corps variant of the F-35 Lightning II also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. Friday, Nov. 16. The F-35B, one of three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter, is a tactical fixed-wing aircraft that is to be the replacement for aging jets within the Marine Corps. 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing's first F-35 squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, is based at MCAS Yuma and is the first operational F-35 squadron in the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense. Marine F-35B pilot Maj. Aric Liberman delivered the first F-35B, BF-19, to MCAS Yuma at 1:05 p.m. MST. This aircraft will be used to conduct a full spectrum of aviation operations in support of combat missions and maritime readiness worldwide."

http://static.dvidshub.net/media/thumbs ... 74_q75.jpg

BF-19? it's belongs to Eglin and marked 14, this one looks like BF-20 (marked 15)
more pic's in the link
http://www.yumasun.com/sections/slideshow/?id=16730919

Congratulations MCAS Yuma!

(BTW, it's the first LRIP-4 to deliver)

Don't place too much credence in the modex. Look closely and you'll note that the buno is 168717 -- BF-19.

Uploaded to Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-qU6FU7QvM

Reminds me of this old video (posted somewhere else as well)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQL9Kxxd88s

Getting new planes must be fun.

quicksilver wrote:Don't place too much credence in the modex. Look closely and you'll note that the buno is 168717 -- BF-19.

Sorry, I don't see the BuNo clearly!
According to LM the BF-19 on the FF (Oct 15) marked as Eglin plane (VMFAT 501) and no' 14, it's weird they diverted it to Yuma and changed the 14 to 15.
But on the other hand, the BF-20 on the FF (Oct 14) didn't carry any marks except "15".
I don't say it's not possible, I say it's weird!
Good luck anyway...

1st503rdsgt wrote:
Getting new planes must be fun.

-121 has been patiently waiting, in between trips to Eglin. Big day, indeed!!

Questions: Does anyone know if LM does STOVL testing before delivering F-35Bs? Is the USMC conducting any STOVL training?

I ask because nothing much has been said or shown of the capability since the USS Wasp tests.

I would imagine (so I don't know) that all aspects of the F-35B is tested by LM before delivery. And why not? No STOVL training has not been cleared along with a lot of other aspects of F-35 training generally as we know. Many more STOVL testing events have been carried out since the USS Wasp trials. Look at the LM Fast Facts - I will.

First F-35 Lightning lands at MCAS Yuma [The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.] By James Gilbert, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services 17 Nov 2012

http://www.equities.com/news/headline-s ... industrial

"...An additional F-35 is expected to arrive each month until a full squadron is stationed at the base. The squadron expects to have an entire squadron of planes by late spring or early summer. The total transition from old aircraft to new aircraft and personnel for the F-35 squadrons is scheduled for 2020.

As the home of the first F-35 fighters in the nation, MCAS Yuma will get five squadrons each with 16 aircraft, and one operational test and evaluation squadron of eight aircraft. These 88 aircraft will replace Yuma's four existing squadrons of 56 AV-8B Harriers.

"Being the first operational F-35 squadron in the world is another historic moment in Marine aviation, and the Green Knights are proud to be chosen to lead the way into the future of military aviation," Scott said. "I have no doubt the legendary Green Knight Joe Foss is smiling down on VMFA-121 and the Marine Corps."

The next squadron to receive its new planes will be VMA-211, which lost six of its Harrier jets during an insurgent attack in September in Afghanistan.

MCAS Yuma has been a very busy place the past two years as it has prepared for the arrival of the new aircraft, pilots and crews. About $400 million has been invested in the construction of infrastructure so far.

In total, as much as $500 million could be allotted to the air station by 2015, including $100 million in 2013. Some future projects over the next three years include a Security Operations building and new Combat Aircraft Loading apron.

Among the already completed and near-completed projects are two new hangars, which cost about $38 million each. While specifically been designed for the F-35B, the hangars reportedly can be used to maintain other aircraft if needed.

The first JSF hangar was occupied on Aug. 20 by VMFA-121. Until recently the squadron had been based at MCAS Miramar in California and flew the F/A-18D.

The third and fourth hangars are in design, with construction expected to be completed in May 2014. The fifth JSF hangar has not been awarded yet, but the base expects to demolish two of the older fixed-wing hangars and replace them with the fifth F-35 hangar within the next five years.

Also as part of the build-up, construction on an Intermediate Maintenance Activity building and a F-35 Simulator Facility were recently completed.

Construction is also under way on a new Field-Carrier Landing Practice training facility on the Barry M. Goldwater Range. The project is expected to be completed by July 2013.

Since MCAS Yuma is the home of the first fully operational F-35 squadrons, many units from all branches of the military that will transition to the new aircraft are expected to spend time training here."

You got it.

spazsinbad wrote:I would imagine (so I don't know) that all aspects of the F-35B is tested by LM before delivery. And why not? No STOVL training has not been cleared along with a lot of other aspects of F-35 training generally as we know. Many more STOVL testing events have been carried out since the USS Wasp trials. Look at the LM Fast Facts - I will.

Well, that's a little disappointing given that it's already in production. One would have expected LM and the USMC to be a bit more aggressive with the STOVL system by now... unless it's proving to be as problematic as the critics claim. Then again, I don't really know jack-$#!+; I just see planes flying without all that test hardware sprouted from the nose and wonder what the holdup is (hope it's just software-related as usual).

From: http://f-35.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/ ... 152012.pdf

"On October 3 [2012], STOVL variant achieved 350 vertical landings to date."

Oh come on. Have you not been reading about the issues with training and training clearances and all that kerfuffle? Look back at those threads and stop complaining - especially about the F-35B (& Canada). Thanks.

spazsinbad wrote:Oh come on. Have you not been reading about the issues with training and training clearances and all that kerfuffle? Look back at those threads and stop complaining - especially about the F-35B (& Canada). Thanks.

Fine...
fine

f414 has taken my "ripping on Canada" bit anyways.

fang wrote:Sorry, I don't see the BuNo clearly!
According to LM the BF-19 on the FF (Oct 15) marked as Eglin plane (VMFAT 501) and no' 14, it's weird they diverted it to Yuma and changed the 14 to 15.
But on the other hand, the BF-20 on the FF (Oct 14) didn't carry any marks except "15".
I don't say it's not possible, I say it's weird!
Good luck anyway...

I'm with you, I think there is a mix up and this is actually the BF-20 which was marked 15 but did not have a tailcode or unit painted on the aircraft yet. I thought this would be VM-15 but turned out to be VK-15 instead...but not 100% sure...I can't read the buno clearly as well.