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]
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News: Eglin launches first F-35 sortie [2012-03-07]
No matter what uniform they wear, service members of the 33rd Fighter Wing know the launch of the first F-35 Lightning II flight on March 6 is a small step into the next half century of air dominance.
Aircraft Database:
F-35 #08-0750
First flight by an F-35 on a sortie occured on March 6th, 2012. The training flight was to last 90 minutes but was cut short at 15 minutes due to a fuel leak. Pilot for this historic flight was Lt. Col. Eric Smith who is the 58th FS director of operations and was launched by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Houser of the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
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