Aircraft To Be Assigned To Pilot And Maintainer Training

The third F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) Lightning II for the United Kingdom arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, FL Tuesday, where it will be used for pilot and maintainer training. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Roger Hardy piloted the aircraft known as BK-3 (ZM137) on its 90-minute ferry flight from the Lockheed Martin F-35 production facility at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.

“Today’s arrival of BK-3 is the latest step in delivering the F-35’s unprecedented capability to UK Defense,” said Group Captain Harv Smyth, the UK’s Joint Strike Fighter National Deputy. “With each passing day, our ‘Lightning’ program is maturing. In less than a year, we have taken ownership of our first three aircraft and begun both pilot and engineer training. The ‘Lightning’ truly represents a turning point for U.K.’s Combat Air capability and will dramatically increase our ability to defend national sovereignty interests and ensure security around the globe.”

Collectively, some 500+ UK companies are involved in the F-35 Lightning II program, building 15 per cent of each F-35 produced. Over the next 40 years, UK industry will continue to play a vital role in the F-35’s global production, follow-on development and sustainment, bringing strong economic benefits to the country and generating tens of thousands of jobs.

(Image from file.)

FMI: www.mod.uk