USAF F-35B Pilots Go to Sea with VMFA-122

https://theaviationist.com/2019/11/04/t ... s-america/

I wonder what happened with the RAAF F-35B exchange pilot promised by LtGen 'Dog' Davis USMC a few years ago now.

Honestly, what so special about this??? As exchange duty between the services and even foreign militaries is fairly common.....

Honestly, what so special about this??? As exchange duty between the services and even foreign militaries is fairly common.....

Common? USAF exchange pilots are rare animals in USMC STOVL community. IIRC not since early AV-8A, ie the 70s, and maybe going back to the Kestrel evaluation in the 60s.

I wonder if the USAF will ever end up with some Bs.

Honestly, what so special about this??? As exchange duty between the services and even foreign militaries is fairly common.....

Common? USAF exchange pilots are rare animals in USMC STOVL community. IIRC not since early AV-8A, ie the 70s, and maybe going back to the Kestrel evaluation in the 60s.

I was of course talking in "general terms". As exchange pilot assignments happen all of the time...


For example before Lt. Col. David "Chip" Berke (Ret) was the CO of F-35B Squadron (VMFAT-501). He flew as an exchange pilot with the USAF on F-22A's.

I wonder if the USAF will ever end up with some Bs.

Short-term no long-term possible........

Honestly, what so special about this??? As exchange duty between the services and even foreign militaries is fairly common.....

Common? USAF exchange pilots are rare animals in USMC STOVL community. IIRC not since early AV-8A, ie the 70s, and maybe going back to the Kestrel evaluation in the 60s.

I was of course talking in "general terms". As exchange pilot assignments happen all of the time...


For example before Lt. Col. David "Chip" Berke (Ret) was the CO of F-35B Squadron (VMFAT-501). He flew as an exchange pilot with the USAF on F-22A's.

Thanks for the insight.

Are we saying here the USAF is discerning....or reluctant?

Blue suiter killed in an RAF GR1 in 1971; probably the latter.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=55593

Doesn't seem like it had anything to do with the pilot being USAF.

Couldn't be done it seems (not surprising given the complete lack of interest by the RAAF most likely): PEP/TED TALK?

Personnel Exchange Program (PEP)

"The Marine Corps Foreign Personnel Exchange Program (MCFPEP) is a means of continuing a long-term, selectively visible presence and association among military counterparts to enhance worldwide security cooperation...."

--------- Country ---------------- Billet
------------------- Australia
-------------------- ARH Tiger Exchange
-------------------- F/A-18 Pilot Exchange
-------------------- F-35 Maintenance Officer Exchange
-------------------- Air Support Control Officer Exchange...."

Source: https://www.aviation.marines.mil/Branch ... -Exchange/

Remember, this......


Finnish fighter pilot lands on US aircraft carrier

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/y ... carrier-2/

RAAF Hornet Exchange Pilots with USMC / USMC Hornet Pilots Flying with RAAF Hornets - neither fly from any carriers. Specifically RAAF Hornet Pilots flying with USMC Squadrons DO NOT fly from carriers so I guess they are not doing so now.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=55593

Doesn't seem like it had anything to do with the pilot being USAF.

Has a blue suiter flown an operational Harrier anywhere in the world since then? Not a DT or OT guy; on an operational exchange?

‘Reluctant’ I’d say. Not without justification, but ‘reluctant‘ nonetheless.