US Air Force - AETC F-35s



  • 08-0748.jpg
    Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti was at the controls for the first flight of the fifth production model of the F-35 Lightning II, AF-10 (#08-0748), on June 29th, 2011 from NAS Fort Worth. [Lockheed Martin photo by Carl Richards]
  • 08-0750_001.jpg
    First flight of USAF F-35A #08-0750 on July 9th, 2011 from NAS Fort Worth. [Lockheed Martin photo by Neal Chapman]
  • 08-0747_001.jpg
    USAF Lt. Col Eric Smith pilots Lockheed Martin F-35A #08-0747 from NAS Fort Worth on the ferry flight to Eglin AFB on July 14th, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo]
  • 08-0747_002.jpg
    USAF Lt. Col. Eric Smith pilots Lockheed Martin F-35A #08-0747 from NAS Fort Worth on the ferry flight to Eglin AFB on July 14th, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Randy A. Crites]
  • 08-0747.jpg
    A crew chief from the 33rd FW guides F-35A #08-0747 to its final parking position on July 14th, 2011. The aircraft is the first production F-35 to be delivered to the wing. AF-9 arrived at 13.18hrs CDT after launching on its 90-minute ferry flight from Fort Worth. [Lockheed Martin photo by Angel DelCueto]
  • 08-0747_003.jpg
    USAF F-35A #08-747 (AF-9) stops at its final parking position at Eglin AFB on July 14th, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Angel DelCueto]
  • 08-0751.jpg
    Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Canin flew the eighth production model of the F-35 Lightning II #08-751 (AF-13) on its inaugural flight on July 14th, 2011 from NAS Fort Worth. [Lockheed Martin photo by Carl Richards]
  • 08-0747_001_001.jpg
    TSgt. Brian West watches an F-35 Lightning II approaches at Eglin on July 14th, 2011. Tail number #08-0747 is the DoD's first operational F-35. [USAF photo by Samuel King Jr.]
  • 08-0747_002_001.jpg
    TSgt. Brian West watches an F-35 Lightning II approaches at Eglin on July 14th, 2011. Tail number #08-0747 is the DoD's first operational F-35. [USAF photo by Samuel King Jr.]
  • 08-0747_003_001.jpg
    Lt. Col. Eric Smith talks with his squadron and wing commanders on July 14th, 2011 after piloting the DoD's first operational F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter to its new home at Eglin AFB. [USAF photo by Samuel King Jr.]
  • 08-0747_004.jpg
    The first production model F-35 Lightning II to be assigned to the 33rd FW arrived at Eglin AFB on July 14th, 2011 after a ninety-minute ferry flight from Fort Worth. The aircraft, #08-0747, will be used for training F-35 pilots and maintainers who begin coursework at the base’s new F-35 Integrated Training Center. The aircraft was flown to Florida by Lt. Col. Eric Smith of the 58th FS, the first Air Force qualified F-35 line pilot. [USAF photo by SSgt. Joely Santiago]
  • 08-0747_005.jpg
    DOD’s first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter soars past the 33rd FW flightline with two F-16 Fighting Falcon chase aircraft before landing at its new home at Eglin on July 14th, 2011. Its pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th FFS, is the first Air Force qualified JSF pilot. [USAF photo by SSgt. Joely Santiago]
  • 08-0747_004_001.jpg
    DOD’s first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter soars over Destin with an F-16 Fighting Falcon before landing at its new home at Eglin AFB on July 14th, 2011. [USAF photo by SSgt. Joely Santiago]
  • 08-0747_005_001.jpg
    DOD’s first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter soars over the Northwest Florida airspace before landing at its new home at Eglin AFB on July 14th, 2011. [USAF photo by SSgt. Joely Santiago]
  • 08-0746.jpg
    Lockheed Martin's second F-35A Lightning II production jet delivery in a week. #08-0746 (AF-8) flown by USMC Maj. Joseph T. 'OD' Bachmann flew the aircraft to Eglin AFB on July 20th, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Angel DelCueto]