The first Australian F-35A Lightning II pilot has completed his first flight in the aircraft.
Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson’s flight, on the morning of March 17 (US time), was conducted in a US Air Force F-35A from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where he is undergoing conversion training onto the aircraft
The first two Australian F-35As, meanwhile, are at Luke Air Force Base, “in anticipation of the opening of the international pilot training centre in mid 2015,” Defence stated.
The first RAAF F-35A is due to arrive in Australia at the end of 2018, with the Royal Australian Air Force’s first operational squadron expected to be established by 2020.
Australian Aviation
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