500th F-35 delivered

[tbarlow]

https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/03/03/for ... ghter-jet/

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office delivered the 500th F-35.

The multi-role fighter will be delivered to the Air National Guard in Burlington, Vermont.

The 500 hundred F-35s include 354 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants, 108 F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variants and 38 F-35C carrier (CV) variants for the U.S. and international customers, the company said in a news release Tuesday.

In February, the F-35 enterprise surpassed 250,000 flight hours.

Those hours include all F-35s in the fleet comprised of developmental test jets, training, operational, U.S. and international aircraft.

“These milestones are a testament to the talent and dedication of the joint government, military and industry teams,” said Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin, vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. “The F-35 is delivering an unprecedented 5th Generation combat capability to the warfighter at the cost of a 4th Generation legacy aircraft.”

The F-35 operates from 23 military bases worldwide. More than 985 pilots and over 8,890 maintainers are trained.

Nine nations use the F-35 from their home soil, eight services have declared Initial Operating Capability and four services have employed F-35s in combat operations.

[ricnunes]

Oh my god, the DEATH SPIRAL!

(Hehe, this time I'm the first at this )

[optimist]

500 Concurrency units before full production. Is this a new aircraft record that the F-35 has also set? It wins everywhere

[weasel1962]

Already 134 deliveries last year. Milestone C is now merely a formality.

[mixelflick]

My oh my, it's come long way hasn't it?

500 birds delivered, most for the USAF but the Marines now have over 100 too. By the looks of things though, going to be awhile before C's are commonplace. Shame too, it's a beautiful sight. Just what we needed to regain the air to air/ground advantage we've enjoyed for so long.

Fantastic piece of engineering, not done yet (not by a longshot). Just wait until those new engines get here!

[bring_it_on]

This is a big achievement. There were so many basement dwellers who doubted that this day would ever come, based on short memories, many who got burnt betting against the F-35. At some point you have to get rid of the bureaucracy that's been a drag for so long (and that the most famous F-35 detractors have clinged on to ) and go out and buy asymmetric advantage in bulk.

[XanderCrews]

This is a big achievement. There were so many basement dwellers who doubted that this day would ever come, based on short memories, many who got burnt betting against the F-35. At some point you have to get rid of the bureaucracy that's been a drag for so long (and that the most famous F-35 detractors have clinged on to ) and go out and buy asymmetric advantage in bulk.

well put all around

[commisar]

Oh my god, the DEATH SPIRAL!

(Hehe, this time I'm the first at this )

Ahah, more than the Rafale's entire projected run and it'll eclipse the Typhoon this year.

The Eurocanard fans are shaking with rage at this point.

[commisar]

My oh my, it's come long way hasn't it?

500 birds delivered, most for the USAF but the Marines now have over 100 too. By the looks of things though, going to be awhile before C's are commonplace. Shame too, it's a beautiful sight. Just what we needed to regain the air to air/ground advantage we've enjoyed for so long.

Fantastic piece of engineering, not done yet (not by a longshot). Just wait until those new engines get here!

USN is gonna USN. They'll always be difficult when they aren't getting a Navy specific Gucci platform....