US Air Force - AETC F-35s



  • F-35.jpg
    The Air Force’s first joint strike fighter pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of the 58th FS, taxis his squadron’s newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, to its new home at Eglin AFB on July 14th, 2011. [USAF photo by Samuel King Jr.]
  • F-35_001.jpg
    The first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter to arrive to the 33rd FW was on display during the aircraft’s official rollout ceremony on August 26th, 2011 at Eglin AFB. [USAF photo by Samuel King Jr.]
  • 33FW.jpg
    Gen. Edward Rice, the AETC commander, speaks to the crowd of 33rd FW members and state and local leaders during the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter rollout ceremony on August 26th, 2011 at Eglin AFB. [USAF photo by Samuel King Jr.]
  • 08-7048.jpg
    USAF F-35A #08-0748 (AF-10) is seen on its ferry flight from Fort Worth Texas heading to Eglin AFB where it will join fellow F-35s with the 58th FS on August 31st, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Angel DelCueto Keen]
  • 08-0749_001.jpg
    USAF F-35A #08-0749 (AF-11) is seen on its ferry flight from Fort Worth Texas heading to Eglin AFB where it will join fellow F-35s with the 58th FS on August 31st, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Angel DelCueto Keen]
  • 08-0750_002.jpg
    Lt. Col. Eric 'Emmitt' Smith flies #08-0750 (AF-12), the 5th F-35 to be delivered to Eglin AFB's 33rd FW as it departs NAS Fort Worth JRB on October 19th, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by DelCueto Keen]
  • 08-0751_001.jpg
    USAF F-35A #08-0751 (AF-13) takes off for delivery to Eglin AFB on October 26th, 2011 with USMC Maj. Joseph Bachmann at the controls. [Lockheed Martin photo by Angel DelCueto]
  • AF-06.jpg
    USAF pilot Lt. Col. Dwayne Opella and Lockheed Martin test pilot Mark Ward fly F-35A aircraft AF-6 and AF-7 from Edwards AFB for maturity flight software testing on July 15th, 2011. [Lockheed Martin photo by Tom Reynolds]
  • AF-06_005.jpg
    The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program was completed January 18th, 2012 at Edwards AFB. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-06, an F-35A CTOL variant, launched at 17.05h PST and landed after sunset at 18.22h. [Lockheed Martin photo]
  • AF-06_001_001_001.jpg
    The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program was completed January 18th, 2012 at Edwards AFB. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-06, an F-35A CTOL variant, launched at 17.05h PST and landed after sunset at 18.22h. [Lockheed Martin photo by Tom Reynolds]
  • AF-06_002_001.jpg
    The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program was completed January 18th, 2012 at Edwards AFB. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-06, an F-35A CTOL variant, launched at 17.05h PST and landed after sunset at 18.22h. [Lockheed Martin photo by Tom Reynolds]
  • 09-5001.jpg
    Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew the ninth production model of the F-35A (AF-14 - serial number #09-5001) on its inaugural flight on March 2nd, 2012 from NAS Fort Worth. The aircraft is the first produced under the third Low Rate Initial Production contract. [Lockheed Martin photo by Carl Richards]
  • 09-5002.jpg
    Lockheed Martin test pilot Al Norman flew the tenth production model of the F-35A (AF-15 - serial number #09-5002) on its inaugural flight on March 3rd, 2012 from NAS Fort Worth. The aircraft is the second produced under the third Low Rate Initial Production contract. [Lockheed Martin photo by Carl Richards]
  • F-35_002.jpg
    The F-35A Lightning II JSF lifts off for its first training sortie on March 6th, 2012 at Eglin AFB. It’s the first flight of any 33rd FW F-35 since their arrival to the base. [USAF photo by Randy Gon]
  • F-35_001_001.jpg
    The F-35A Lightning II JSF taxis out for its first training sortie followed by an F-16 chase aircraft on March 6th, 2012 at Eglin AFB. [USAF photo by Samuel King Jr.]