F-35 FTU's

huggy · by **huggy** » 02 Nov 2020, 04:49

What countries outside of the USA have F-35 FTU's for doing Initial Qualification training?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 02 Nov 2020, 05:18

Australia has a RAAF Formal Training Unit FTU at RAAF Williamtown however I don't think we call it an FTU. Otherwise I would have to google to find more outside the USofA. Then the RN/RAF in the UK will have an FTU but again they will not call it that (what a strangee name).

"...In the Air Force, this [training] function is performed by a formal training unit (FTU), while the Navy and Marines use the term fleet replacement squadron (FRS), although colloquially most still prefer the obsolete term replacement air group (RAG). Each service branch has distinct and different methods of training..." https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/sto ... hter-wing/

"...Formal F-35 pilot training is conducted at eight training centers including Eglin AFB, MCAS Beaufort, Luke AFB, NAS Lemoore, RAF Marham, Misawa Air Base, Cheongju Air Base and RAAF Base Williamtown. Formal F-35 maintainer training is conducted at Eglin AFB, RAF Marham, Misawa Air Base, Cheongju Air Base and RAAF Base Williamtown. Formal student training includes instruction using the latest courseware, electronic classrooms, simulators, flight events and event-based maintenance training. To support mission rehearsal and tactics development, F-35 training technologies are also located at operational locations...." https://www.f35.com/about/life-cycle/training

GRAPHIC: https://www.f35.com/assets/uploads/imag ... apOnly.jpg

huggy · by **huggy** » 02 Nov 2020, 05:37

spazsinbad wrote: I don't think we call it an FTU.

Fair enough. How about "OCU"?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 02 Nov 2020, 05:39

That's more familiar Operational Conversion Unit OCU however I acknowledge FTU would be a USAF term however I do not recall it being used in this F-35 forum before HOWEVER I am getting old & my memory is not so good no more. RIGHT! :devil:

I'm old enuf to 'member FTA=frack the ARMY; FTN frack the NAVY so I guess FTU will be frack the U know what now? :doh:

outlaw162 · by **outlaw162** » 02 Nov 2020, 19:46

Changing the acronyms in government organizations is to be expected. It's like animals marking their territory.

FTU, OCU, CCTS, TFTS, RTU, RAG, etc., etc. All the same thing, just new ownership. :mrgreen:

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 02 Nov 2020, 23:33

Old Fixed Wing 'Owners' in the RAN FAA (not Argentina) had OFS Operational Flying Schools. Royal Aust Navy Fleet Air Arm

F-35 Initial Qualification [2017] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIu1sfAhulo

Earlier posted here: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=20195&p=376816&hilit=VIu1sfAhulo#p376816
&
Here: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=55255&p=427802&hilit=VIu1sfAhulo#p427802

huggy · by **huggy** » 03 Nov 2020, 06:21

Thanks for the posts.

I'd say that F-35 Training Bases graphic is inaccurate since it seems to show every current and planned F-35 base... not just the FTU... er, OCU... bases.

Good graphic for seeing where they are, though.

Hard to believe they have trained almost 1100 new F-35 pilots in the past 8 years in the US alone.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 03 Nov 2020, 07:52

Not sure what you mean however countries other than US will have very few bases & probably none just for training alone.

Graphic from latest LM F-35 Fast Facts Nov 2020 shows that number of aircraft for the USofA allows for 'specialization'?

https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a6 ... r_2020.pdf (2.3Mb)