Forum: General F-35 Forum

Airman flies 100th F-35A sortie at Eglin (SLIDESHOW) DUSTY RICKETTS / Daily News
16 Aug 2012

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/-51749--.html

"...“I didn’t even know when we were stepping out and taking off that it was going to be the 100th sortie,” Kloos said. “The impressive thing has been how smoothly it’s worked up to this point, and I think as long as the weather continues (to cooperate), we’re just going to see these milestones click off, particularly as more aircraft arrive here.”

Thursday also was Staff Sgt. Shaun Whittington’s first day training with the state- of-the-art fighter jet.

Whittington is an F-16 crew chief for the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He is a member of a team training on the F-35, which is expected to arrive at Nellis next summer.

“It went pretty smooth,” Whittington said. “An F-16 launch is so much more tedious, whereas the F-35 almost runs itself. It’s very maintenance friendly.

“It’s awesome and we can’t wait to get them at Nellis,” he added.

Beginning of short story at the JUMP.

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spazsinbad wrote:

Lotsa snips...

“It went pretty smooth,” Whittington said. “An F-16 launch is so much more tedious, whereas the F-35 almost runs itself. It’s very maintenance friendly.

“It’s awesome and we can’t wait to get them at Nellis,” he added.

Clearly, Lockheed propaganda. Wink