July 21, 2015 Hill activates their first F-35 fighter squadron The jets won't arrive for another few months, but Hill Air Force Base activated its first F-35 Lightning II fighter squadron during a ceremony here July 17.
July 14, 2015 Harrigian cites sustainment center’s F-35 support The head of the Air Force's F-35 Lightning II integration team cited the Air Force Sustainment Center's overall joint strike fighter support during a visit to the center’s headquarters at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, July 10.
July 9, 2015 Jackson speaks on way ahead for Air Force Reserve The head of Air Force Reserve Command discussed the Reserve’s future role in F-35 Lightning II maintenance manning, along with other initiatives July 7. Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson spoke at the Air Force Association’s monthly breakfast at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.
July 1, 2015 First Marine graduates Air Force’s F-35 intelligence course The first Marine Corps officer graduated the Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II Intelligence Formal Training Unit course at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, June 24.
June 29, 2015 Test flight completed after F-35B modifications The Ogden Air Logistics Complex completed an F-35B Lightning II functional check flight at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, June 18, after the first depot-level short take off and vertical landing modifications were completed on two F-35Bs for the Marine Corps.
June 1, 2015 Kendall cites progress on F-35 performance, schedule, cost The F-35 Lightning II program (also known as the Joint Strike Fighter program) is making progress on performance, schedule and cost, Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, told U.S. reporters last week during a teleconference from Norway.
May 22, 2015 Luke's 56th Fighter Wing has new mission Luke Air Force Base's 56th Fighter Wing conducted a change of mission ceremony May 21, formally including the F-35 Lightning II as part of the wing's new mission statement.
May 19, 2015 F-35 pilot training begins at Luke The first ever F-35 Lightning II pilot training class was held at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, May 4.
May 18, 2015 Australian air force pilot flies first partner F-35 sortie A pilot with the Royal Australian Air Force made history May 14, by flying the first RAAF F-35A Lightning II sortie at Luke Air Force Base.
April 30, 2015 Luke commander brings home flagship F-35 The 56th Fighter Wing flagship F-35 Lightning II arrived at Luke Air Force Base April 28, it was the base's 22nd F-35. Flying the aircraft from Lockheed Martin's Forth Worth, Texas, plant to Arizona was Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, the 56th FW commander.
March 26, 2015 F-35 Lightning II costs drop, report shows A recent account of F-35 Lightning II aircraft program costs shows decreases, the Air Force’s F-35 program executive officer told reporters in a media roundtable March 24, 2015.
March 19, 2015 First Luke F-35 student takes to the sky The 56th Fighter Wing officially began training new F-35 Lightning II pilots when the first student, Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, the commander of the 56th Fighter Wing, flew the wing's first training sortie March 18.
March 13, 2015 AF develops high-temperature, abrasion-resistant coating for fighter aircraft The Air Force and a small business partner developed an innovative, high-temperature, abrasion-resistant coating product that could directly improve the reliability and maintainability of weapon systems across the Air Force, including the F-35 Lightning II.
Feb. 3, 2015 F-35 nears completion of all-weather testing For the past four months, an F-35 Lightning II has endured extreme weather temperatures to certify the fleet to deploy to any corner of the world.
Jan. 30, 2015 Air Force names 2-star to lead F-35 Integration Office With the initial operating capability date of the F-35 Lightning II quickly approaching, the Air Force appointed Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian as the director of a larger Air Force F-35 Integration Office, Feb. 1.
Jan. 16, 2015 F-35 arrival begins new era at weapons school A new era began at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School when its first F-35A Lightning II touched-down on the flightline here Jan. 15, flown straight from the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas.
Dec. 22, 2014 Australian F-35 lands at new home The first Royal Australian air force F-35A Lightning II arrived at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona Dec. 18, marking the first international partner to arrive for training.
Dec. 6, 2014 Luke AFB changes refueling truck color, mitigates F-35 shutdowns The 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron recently added a new fuel truck to its fleet designed to improve mission effectiveness and safety on the flightline.
Nov. 26, 2014 Air Force identifies nickel-free material for F-35 aircraft systems Through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract with the Air Force, Triton Systems, Inc., located in Massachusetts, developed a nickel-free material technology that is positioned for transition to several F-35 Joint Strike Fighter applications. Transition of this technology is
Sept. 17, 2014 F-35 on time to deliver global security, Air Force official said Work leading up the completion of the multinational F-35 program is largely on track, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office executive officer said in remarks during the 2014 Air Force Association’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 15.