F-35B - The UK has taken delivery of its first 3 F-35B Lightning II aircraft which, together with a number of military personnel, are stationed at Eglin AFB, Florida where RAF pilots are currently undergoing training. Delivery of the operational UK fleet is planned to start in 2015 after a two-year period of training in the US.
The first land-based operational flights from the type’s Main Operating Base at RAF Marham are expected in 2018 as are flight trials onboard the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier to provide a carrier strike capability by 2020.
A UK test team including personnel from BAE Systems, has successfully completed initial aircraft handling trials for ASRAAM and Paveway IV weapons on the F-35B at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland.
Marine Operational and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22) has
received its first F-35Bs for operational testing at Edwards AFB,
California.
HARRIER - Art Nalls’s company, Nalls Aviation, has recently acquired a Harrier T8 two seat trainer, ZD993, which served in both the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm. It has the all black paint scheme from its days with 899 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton and is in excellent condition.
Art considered ferry-flying the T8 across the Atlantic but decided to dismantle the aircraft and ship it. The aircraft is still in the UK but when it is fully certificated in the United States Art will be offering flight training as well as air show performances.
HUNTER - A Hunter Mk58 operated by the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), who provide adversary and target aircraft for the US services out of Point Mugu NAS, crashed last October. TMk7 XL563, the first production aircraft, is now at the FAST Collection, Farnborough to be refurbished for static display.
TEMPEST - Tempest II MW763 (see
NL 36) is being restored to flying condition by Weald Aviation at North
Weald aerodrome.