First F-35C for USMC Delivered Dec 2014

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 23 Dec 2014, 04:58

F-35 Lightning II Program Meets Aircraft Production Goal for 2014
22 Dec 2014 LM PR

"The Department of Defense accepted its final F-35 Lightning II aircraft delivery for 2014 today meeting the program production goal of 36 aircraft. With the last delivery for this year, the government, Lockheed Martin and industry team has delivered 109 operational aircraft to the U.S. and partner nations since the program's inception. The 36th delivery, known as CF-19, was the first F-35C carrier variant delivered to the Marine Corps....

...The 36 F-35 deliveries include:
• 23 F-35A - U.S. Air Force
• 2 F-35A - Royal Australian Air Force (first two)
• 4 F-35B - U.S. Marine Corps
• 7 F-35C - U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps (first carrier variant)

The 36 F-35 Lightning II aircraft are assigned to the following installations:
• 19 - Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, AZ
• 14 - Eglin Air Force Base, Valparaiso, FL
• 2 - Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C.
• 1 - Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, AZ ..."

CAPTION Photo: "The 36th F-35 Lightning II delivered in 2014 was CF-19, the U.S. Marine Corp’s first F-35C carrier variant. The jet will be assigned to the U.S. Navy’s VFA-101 “Grim Reapers” Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. After arrival, CF-19 will be used for F-35C pilot training. (Photo Lockheed Martin)"

https://www.f35.com/assets/uploads/imag ... 9_(700x510)__main.jpg

Source: https://www.f35.com/news/detail/f-35-li ... f6511380=1

VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/lmaeronautics/review/1 ... 46ea726224

archeman · by **archeman** » 24 Dec 2014, 00:48

Is there any known differences between the Marine and Navy F-35Cs?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 24 Dec 2014, 00:59

Why would there be any differences? F-35Cs are on CVNs.

XanderCrews · by **XanderCrews** » 24 Dec 2014, 03:02

archeman wrote:Is there any known differences between the Marine and Navy F-35Cs?

Shouldn't be

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 24 Dec 2014, 03:09

Perhaps a larger relief tube? :devil:

BUT for which one? :roll:

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 24 Dec 2014, 04:46

Perhaps a possibility some day for unique EW kit being developed by the Corps for the B finding it's way to their Cs? Otherwise can't think of anything...

Jon · by **Jon** » 24 Dec 2014, 05:24

Thanks for posting this spazsinbad.

Interesting. I didn't know any F-35Cs were going the USMC.

Strange that it has markings for VFA-101. If owned by the USMC, why not have their own training squadron? Did the USMC buy this aircraft or is it US Navy but displaying joint training markings on a few of their aircraft?

I'm not holding hard to this, but reminds me a bit of the F-16N painted with USMC markings. Aircraft was most certainly owned by the US Navy:

USNavy F-16N #163269 at London Ontario. [Photo by Don Becker]

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 24 Dec 2014, 05:45

The USN/USMC used to have separate Adversary/Aggressor Squadrons some time back but now many are gone / amalgamated AFAIK for the usual reasons. During TOPGUN at Miramar when A-4s were bogies then some were titled as USN and some USMC (as a courtesy) with many different paint schemes. So I guess that tradition continues. However....

It is real that the USMC will fly some F-35C squadrons on CVNs as they do today with Hornets because there is a 'law' about this, continuing with an agreement some years ago now between USN and USMC about their F-35 variants. Which was varied a year or more now ago, as per the story here for NOW:

"...The Marine Corps will procure a total of 353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35Cs..."
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=24470&p=283120&hilit=Shirley#p283120

Original agreement here: http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/ ... r_to_e.pdf

"...The Navy Department still intends to buy 680 F-35 joint strike fighters. Of those, 260 will be Navy F-35Cs, another 80 F-35Cs will be Marine aircraft, and the STOVL version for the Corps will make up 340 planes, or half the total Navy-Marine JSF fleet...."

Source: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/03/n ... f_031411w/ 14 Mar 2011

VFA-101 is the F-35C training squadron composed of USN/USMC F-35Cs for the moment. Probably the USMC Aviation Plan 2015 [go to first URL of this reply] will have more info on what the USMC will do with their F-35Cs.

F-35 fighter reactivates Grim Reapers, storied Naval flight squadron Grim Reapers back with brand new scythe
01 Sep 2012 Rob Johnson

"...That temporary supply shortage is why the Navy Grim Reapers are training at Eglin: The only F-35s available for another year or so are models that were ordered by the Air Force and customized to that branch’s specifications.

Thus, Dorn’s Navy unit is training as part of a joint operation, along with a Marine Corps squadron, under the umbrella of the Air Force’s 33rd Fighter Wing.

“It’s a whole new concept in training,” Dorn said. “We capitalize a lot on what the Air Force and Marines are learning.”..."

Source: http://www.pnj.com/article/20120902/NEW ... -squadron-

A quick look at the Marine Aviation Plan 2015 suggests there will NOT be a USMC F-35C training squadron. However I may have overlooked something in haste.

neurotech · by **neurotech** » 24 Dec 2014, 06:52

spazsinbad wrote:The USN/USMC used to have separate Adversary/Aggressor Squadrons some time back but now many are gone / amalgamated AFAIK for the usual reasons. During TOPGUN at Miramar when A-4s were bogies then some were titled as USN and some USMC (as a courtesy) with many different paint schemes. So I guess that tradition continues. However....

Marines still fly F-5s in VMFT-401 in Yuma. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMFT-401 VMFT-401 is the only official Aggressor Squadron in the Marines.

neptune · by **neptune** » 24 Dec 2014, 06:59

archeman wrote:Is there any known differences between the Marine and Navy F-35Cs?

No.

neptune · by **neptune** » 24 Dec 2014, 07:11

Jon wrote:Thanks for posting this spazsinbad.

Interesting. I didn't know any F-35Cs were going the USMC.....

USN F-35C 260
USMC F-35C 80
TOTAL F-35C 340

USMC F-35B 340

"In 2011, the USMC and USN signed an agreement that the USMC will purchase 340 F-35B and 80 F-35C fighters while the USN will purchase 260 F-35C fighters. The five squadrons of USMC F-35Cs (AS ARE THE CURRENT F/A-18S) will be assigned to Navy carriers while F-35Bs will be used on amphibious ships and ashore."

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 24 Dec 2014, 07:58

Neppie Nope - a few years back the numbers changed:

"...The Marine Corps will procure a total of 353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35Cs..."

Source: https://marinecorpsconceptsandprograms. ... pdf(16.5Mb) MARINE AVIATION PLAN 2015
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=24470&p=283120&hilit=Shirley#p283120

Earlier ZanduDu caught this change from a 2013 USMC Av Plan: http://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Portals/142 ... 0Final.pdf (11.9 Mb)

GO HERE: (and this is fun) viewtopic.php?f=61&t=24470&p=258062&hilit=Crow#p258062

Jon · by **Jon** » 24 Dec 2014, 14:47

Thanks guys, I'm going to amend CF-19 to USMC in the serial database.

blindpilot · by **blindpilot** » 24 Dec 2014, 17:01

Jon wrote:Thanks guys, I'm going to amend CF-19 to USMC in the serial database.

BTW Jon thanks for what you do with the DB. It is appreciated.

BP

neptune · by **neptune** » 24 Dec 2014, 17:37

Jon wrote:Thanks guys, I'm going to amend CF-19 to USMC in the serial database.

You are welcome and seconds on thanks for the database upkeep!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!