Pilots, maintainer on F-35 pros & cons
By Lara Seligman As the Air Force races to declare its F-35 jets operational before the end of the year, observers are still warning about schedule delays, a faulty logistics system, and software glitches. But here at Edwards, the pilots, maintainers and technicians of the F-35 Integrated Test Force say they are happy with the […]
A day in the life of an F-35 test pilot
By Lara Seligman Here at the F-35 Integrated Test Force, pilots spend their days simulating real missions to prepare the jets to one day operate on the battlefield. Air Force Times got a glimpse into the day-to-day life of an F-35 test pilot during a May 4 visit to this base north of Los Angeles. […]
Additional basing considered for F-35
April 12, 2016 Air Force officials announced April 12 that Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida; Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas; and Whiteman AFB, Missouri, are candidate bases for the first Reserve-led F-35A Lightning II location. The preferred and reasonable alternatives are expected to be selected in […]
Lockheed Martin to get $3 billion from F-35 sale to Denmark
By Peter Levring Denmark’s government plans to replace its aging fleet of fighter jets with Lockheed Martin planes in an order worth 20 billion kroner ($3 billion). The minority government of Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, which still needs parliamentary approval before the order can be placed, wants to spend the money on 27 F-35 jets […]
America’s last fighter jet makers scramble to keep production alive
BY MARCUS WEISGERBER MAY 12, 2016 In the southwest corner of a mile-long assembly plant here, an F-16 fighter jet is slowly coming to life. That plane, being built for the Iraqi Air Force, is far more sophisticated than the first Falcon to come off this production line more than 40 years ago, but it […]
McCain looks to kill F-35 program
By Lara Seligman May 16, 2016 In a surprise move, Senate Armed Service Committee Chairman John McCain is looking to eliminate the F-35 joint program office, currently the hub of the gargantuan operation that spans three US services and 12 nations. The provision in his version of the defense policy bill, approved by the committee Thursday as part […]
F-35 exceeds 50,000 flying hours
By Marina Malenic February 12, 2016 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters operating at 12 international locations have accumulated more than 50,000 flight hours, the company announced on 10 February. The flight hours fell into two main categories: operational flying hours, flown by 155 jets delivered to six different nations; and System Development […]
Canadians delay tricky F-35
By Sean Gallagher June 7, 2016 While campaigning for office, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised that his government would never buy the controversial, increasingly expensive F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for his country’s air force. That declaration came despite the previous administration’s commitment to purchase 65 of those planes from Lockheed Martin. Now, however, it appears Trudeau’s government […]
Thunderbirds not flying in RI airshow because of recent crashes
By Cierra Putman June 7, 2016 In the wake of the Thunderbirds crash in Colorado, the military announced the team will not perform at the Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show. “Our entire organization wishes the team the best and looks forward to welcoming them back in the near future,” the Rhode Island […]