Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II #3

by Arthur Eggers

Title

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II #3

Artist

Arthur Eggers

Medium

Digital Art - Color Print

Description

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters developed to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability. The F-35 has three main models; the F-35A is a conventional takeoff and landing variant, the F-35B is a short take-off and vertical-landing variant, and the F-35C is a carrier-based variant. The F-35 is descended from the X-35, the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. JSF development is being principally funded by the United States. The partner nations are either NATO members or close U.S. allies. It is being designed and built by an aerospace industry team led by Lockheed Martin. The F-35 carried out its first flight on 15 December 2006. The F-35A is expected to match the F-16 in maneuverability and instantaneous and sustained high-g performance, and outperform it in stealth, payload, range on internal fuel, avionics, operational effectiveness, supportability, and survivability. The A variant is primarily intended to replace the USAF's F-16 Fighting Falcon. The 33 FW, Nomads, is assigned to the Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida where it is a tenant unit. The 33 FW divested itself of its F-15C and F-15D Eagle aircraft in 2008 and 2009 and completed the transition from Air Combat Command (ACC) to Air Education and Training Command (AETC) on 1 October 2009. At the same time, it became the first American F-35 Lightning II training unit. Its main mission is to train U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy pilots and maintainers on the F-35 Lightning II. The wing operates three flying squadrons, the Air Force's 58th Fighter Squadron (58 FS), the Navy's Strike Fighter Squadron 101 (VFA-101) and the Marine Corps' Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501).

Uploaded

March 23rd, 2013

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags