Posted on 07/15/2011 7:20:01 AM PDT by saminfl
First F-35 arrives at Eglin By ANGEL McCURDY Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4432 | amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com EGLIN AFB — The first F-35 landed at the 33rd Fighter Wing on Thursday to applause and cheers.
The first production model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter arrived at Eglin Air Force Base about 1:15 p.m. from Lockheed Martin’s production plant in Fort Worth, Texas.
“This is an extremely exciting day for us. We’ve been waiting two years for this day,” Col. Andrew Toth, commander of the 33rd, said as he waited for the jet to arrive. “Having it here is just outstanding. There are a lot of smiles out here today.”
The F-35 was the first of 59 expected to come to Eglin. Five other jets are due by the end of year.
Toth said maintenance training will begin immediately and flight training is expected to begin this fall. Members of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps will be trained to fly the plane.
“Over the next couple years, we will be able to conduct a fully integrated program,” he said. “It will be the first of its kind.” The Joint Strike Fighter is the country’s first fifth-generation, multi-role fighter. It is equipped with the latest technology and has capabilities that exceed aircraft at Eglin now.
It is being built in multiple configurations to suit the combat missions of the American military branches as well as allies who are participating in the F-35 program.
As the jet landed, more than 100 visitors in the stands near the 33rd’s hangar stood with cameras ready to get a look at the plane that sounded like a large vacuum cleaner.
In between the screams and whistles, military men and women shouted, “One down, 58 to go.”
C o n g r e s s m a n J e f f Miller was not on hand for the arrival but added his voice to the celebration. “Today is an exciting day for Northwest Florida,” he said in an email. “We are very proud to welcome the nation’s premier strike fighter to its new home on the Emerald Coast. I look forward to the arrival of the rest of the aircraft in the coming months.”
Lt. Col. J.B. Wilbourne flew an F-16 that escorted the F-35 to Eglin.
“This has been the best week ever,” Wilbour ne said. “The F-35 will ensure air dominance for the United States for the next 30 years, and today takes the first step toward that.
“Today makes everything we’ve done a reality,” he added. “I’m out on cloud nine.”
The Joint Strike Fighter project has faced numerous delays since it first was announced. When the Pentagon signed the contract with Lockheed Martin to build the F-35 in 2001, the first jets were expected to be delivered to the Department of Defense in 2008.
However, by March 2008 only one F-35 had been completed and was undergoing test flights.
The F-35 made its first appearance at Eglin in April 2009 when one of the jets was flown in for a ceremony for military and local officials. The jet remained at Eglin for a few days for test flights.
Daily News Staff Writer Dusty Ricketts contributed to this report.
Howdy, neighbor!..................
The first F-35 landed at the 33rd Fighter Wing on Thursday to applause and cheers.33rd fighter wing? Shouldn't we have an *even* number of wings?
It would be nice if they indicated the version of this plane (35 A/B/C) but, since it is an Air Force plane, the answer can be deduced.
Here’s praying the YF-23 is being secretly produced to give even greater protection. But, I know if king Richard knows that’s not possible.
SALUTE!
Howdy back!
Interesting. Anyone know why it is not being flight tested at Edwards AFB?
This is a “production” aircraft according to the article.
Indeed, and who needs Victor Bout when we have Zero wanting to sell that stuff to CHina and the muslims.
maybe flight testing is complete to the point that aircrew
checkout can get under way?
It’s the AF’s “A” model.
I hope it works out better then the ultra expesive, ultra crappo F-22.
My old unit back in the 70’s.
I believe the YF-23 was the Boeing competitor that lost out to the Lockheed F-22. Is there another aircraft that has been given the YF-23 designation?
More test flights? Still not production? Still falling short design requirements too, I’m sure.
I doubt it was just hoping this reportedly more advanced and superior fighter would get secret funding and be produced as an “ace in the hole”.
The article said that this was a “production F-35”. It’s likely that the “test flights” are actually training flights for the pilots.
Earlier F-35’s were prototypes shipped to test programs to establish that the aircraft met design specs.
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