F-35C Finally arrives at Eglin?

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 received the Navy's first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft from Lockheed Martin today at the squadron's home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

The F-35C is a fifth generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.

The F-35C will enhance the flexibility, power projection, and strike capabilities of carrier air wings and joint task forces and will complement the capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which currently serves as the Navy's premier strike fighter.

By 2025, the Navy's aircraft carrier-based air wings will consist of a mix of F-35C, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers electronic attack aircraft, E-2D Hawkeye battle management and control aircraft, Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) air vehicles, MH-60R/S helicopters and Carrier Onboard Delivery logistics aircraft.

VFA 101, based at Eglin Air Force Base, will serve as the F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron, training both aircrew and maintenance personnel to fly and repair the F-35C.

For more news from Commander, Naval Air Forces, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/airpac/ or the command's official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/FlyNavy.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy

qslim wrote:Just saw a formation of 1 35 and three 18s fly over here and get in the pattern, is this finally the day? Been hearing about the Reapers getting their first F-35 for over a year now, those Navy boys at Eglin deserve to have a jet to work.

"...Navy pilots will practice carrier landings at the relatively remote Choctaw Field at the west end of Eglin’s reservation. F-35s must circle much lower than the other variants to land on carriers, and the noise would be too great at Eglin.

The first Navy jet had been scheduled to arrive in April, but adjustments that come with any new weapons system delayed things, Enfield said.

Tabert had no problems Saturday.

“They did a great job designing it,” Tabert said of Lockheed Martin. “The airplane flies beautifully. It’s a very easy airplane to fly.”

Eglin now has a total of 26 F-35s: 13 Air Force F-35As, 12 Marine F-35Bs (including two owned by the United Kingdom) and the F-35C.

That will change soon enough. The second F-35C is expected to arrive this week, and VFA 101 should have six or seven by the end of the calendar year, Enfield said. In about 18 months the squadron will boast 15 jets."

spazsinbad wrote:BIGpic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedma ... otostream/ (4.5Mb)

spazsinbad wrote:'SWP' has a good JPG of the Luneberg Lens reflectors which I'll find soon - meantime here it is:...

spazsinbad wrote:'SWP' has a good JPG of the Luneberg Lens reflectors which I'll find soon - meantime here it is:...