The Combat Aircraft Will Fly At Two Airshows In Britain

The F-35 Lightning II will make its international debut in July at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford and in the same month will also fly at the Farnborough International Air Show. This will be the first time the combat aircraft has flown outside of the United States. The selection of 2 UK airshows demonstrates the significant role that Britain has in the program. Approximately 15% of every aircraft is built in the UK.

“The US and the UK have worked closely together on the F-35 project from the beginning," said UK Defense Secretary Philip Hammond. "We are the only country that is a Level 1 partner in the project, which is sustaining tens of thousands of jobs in the UK.
 
“This fifth generation stealth combat aircraft will be a major boost to British combat air power and it is entirely fitting that the F-35’s first stop outside the United States will be in the UK.”
 
The MOD has 3 aircraft which are all currently based in the US undertaking training with Royal Navy and Royal Air Force pilots. Orders for further aircraft will be placed over the next few years.
 
The UK’s first operational Lightning II squadron, 617 Squadron, is scheduled to transition to RAF Marham in Norfolk from the US in 2018 ahead of flight trials of the Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier later that year.

The Royal International Air Tattoo is open to the public from 11-13 July and Farnborough International Air Show is open to trade visitors from 14-18 July and open to the public 19-20 July.

(Image provided by the UK MoD)

FMI: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence