Media Gallery

Maj. Eric Smith, 58th FS assistant operations director, flies the 33rd FW mission rehearsal trainer for the F-35 during a demonstration on May 27th, 2010. The trainer will use state of the art technology to further familiarize students with the Joint Strike Fighter. [USAF...
See also: New tech-advanced classroom awaits F-35 students

Lockheed Martin F-35C with Jeff (SLIM) Knowles Test Pilot at the controls before CF-1's first flight. [Lockheed Martin photo by Tom Harvey]
See also: Navy F-35 achieves first flight

Maj. Joseph Bachmann shakes hands with his plane captain Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Smith, of VMFAT-501, after bringing the first Marine F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter to its new home at Eglin AFB. VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs on January 11th, 2012. [USAF photo by Samuel...

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th FS director of operations, puts on his helmet as SSgt. Jeremy Houser, 33rd AMXS crew chief, assists prior to the first F-35A Lightning II JSF training sortie at Eglin AFB on March 6th, 2012. [USAF photo by Samuel King Jr.]
See also: Eglin launches first F-35 sortie

Marine Sgt. Eric Spence, a plane captain with VMFAT-501, and Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann prepare life support equipment for their first F-35B sortie on May 22nd, 2012. [USAF photo by Maj. Karen Roganov]
See also: F-35B lifts off for first flight at Eglin

Lt. Col. Randal Efferson (left) and Maj. Jay Spohn stand in front of a F-35 at Eglin AFB on May 11th, 2012. The Florida Air National Guardsmen are the only National Guard pilots currently assigned to the 33rd OG and they’ll soon be taking to the skies to master the F-35...
See also: Guard’s first F-35 pilots ready to take flight

Marine Lt. Col. David Berke, commanding officer for VMFAT-501, taxis in from completing the 100th F-35 Lightning II sortie at the 33rd FW, Eglin AFB on July 11th, 2012. The 33 FW’s 100 flights completed include 74 F-35A sorties and F-35B sorties. [USAF photo by Maj. Karen...

Group shot of the F-35 Combined Test Force team that performed stores static ejection testing on an F-35 at Edwards AFB. [USAF photo by Paul Weatherman & David Henry]

On July 19th, 2012 the United Kingdom took delivery of its first F-35 Lightning II jet during a ceremony at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth. The jet (BK-1) is an F-35B STOVL model. [Lockheed Martin photo]
See also: UK accepts first international F-35