Trial F-35A deployment
By James Drew
Feb. 23, 2016
Six F-35As of the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron have deployed to Mountain Home AFB in Idaho this month for an “operational deployment test” that will clear the way for 10 operational jets from the first combat-coded squadron, which will follow this summer.
Normally based at Edwards AFB in California, the six test aircraft are flying training sorties alongside locally housed Fairchild Republic A-10s and Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles at a nearby weapons range.
The air force announced this week that the F-35s arrived on 8 February, and a base spokesman confirms the six jets are still there.