Support Building for Statewide F-35 Luke Forward Campaign

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Fighter Country

Statewide support is rapidly building for Luke Air Force Base and the new F-35 training mission since Gov. Jan Brewer and West Valley mayors launched the Luke Forward campaign.

Public F-35 Meetings in Tucson

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Fighter Country

These public scoping meetings are in an open house format. They will run from 6PM. to 9PM each day. Tuscon residents will have an opportunity to discuss the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) . Attendees at the meetings also will get an introduction to the F-35, its capabilities and mission Monday, March 1, at Sunnyside High School Foyer/Auditorium, 1725 E. Bilby Road, Tucson, Arizona; Tuesday, March 2, at San Carlos High School Cafeteria, Milepost 270 Highway 70, San Carlos, Arizona; Wednesday, March 3, at Easter Arizona College Gila/Galiuro Room, Activities Center, 1014 N College Avenue, Thatcher, Arizona; Thursday, March 4, at…

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Flies in United Kingdom

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Fighter Country

PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Jan. 27 — A Royal Air Force officer on Tuesday became the first active-duty service pilot from the United Kingdom to take to the skies in a Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). RAF Squadron Leader Steve Long piloted BF-2, the second short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B, over Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., logging the aircraft’s 18th mission. Long departed at 9:55 a.m. EST and flew the aircraft to 20,000 feet, before landing 1.3 hours later. Both the RAF and the Royal Navy plan to operate the F-35B. “Flying the F-35 was exactly like the simulators that…

Davis County Commission Letter Supports F-35 Squadron to Hill Air Force Base

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Fighter Country

By Bryon Saxton (Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau) FARMINGTON — A letter of support drafted by the Davis County Commission to bring the F-35 squadron to Hill Air Force Base was approved Tuesday. The letter will now be sent on to the Utah Defense Alliance, which is compiling information it can send to those U.S. Air Force representatives who are involved in making the decision. “As the Davis County Commission we acknowledge the vital nature of the mission of Hill Air Force Base and the critical component of the fighter squadron in both protecting our freedoms as well as being a major…

F-35 To Dominate Future Fighter Market

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Fighter Country

During the past decade, world fighter production totaled only around 2,500 units, but over the next 10 years, annual deliveries are set to rise. Unlike the 1970s and 1980s, when large numbers of dedicated ground-attack aircraft were produced in addition to fighters, the modern market for combat aircraft is focused almost exclusively on multirole fighters that can handle both the air superiority and attack missions. The U.S. Air Force recently proposed building a new bomber, but this program is not expected to deliver an aircraft until the 2020s.

Marana Town Council announces its support for F-35 training in Tucson

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Fighter Country

By Dave Perry, The Explorer Published: January-27-2010 The Marana Town Council has proclaimed its support of the efforts to bring the F-35 Lightning II to the 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International Airport. Tucson is on the “short list,” with Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix and others, to become a training site for pilots on the F-35. “We’re not in competition,” said Col. Gregory N. Stroud of the Air National Guard. “We believe the F-35 and Tucson are a perfect fit.” The F-35 is the successor fighter aircraft to the F-16, and is “critical to the future defense of…

Spotlight likely to be on F-35 program in Singapore

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Fighter Country

Asian countries are likely to assess the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. As a possible solution to their fighter requirements, the f-35 JSF should result in the aircraft taking the spotlight next week. But expect a lot of questions from the media for the Lockheed executives next week, especially on the F-35′s delivery time-line after the latest news about possible delays to the program. Countries like Singapore, South Korea and Japan will also wonder when they would be able to get their hands on the F-35 – and that could have an impact on Boeing and its ability to…

F35 JSF for Operational Testing – Britain Aquiring 3rd STOVL Model

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Fighter Country

The Joint Strike Fighter program has got a boost with Britain recently announcing to buy its third F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft for operational testing. The combat aircraft is being developed by the US defense major Lockheed Martin in partnership with eight other countries. Britain will acquire the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft for operational test and evaluation. Its decision comes at a time when other partner countries in the project, including Australia, Norway, the Netherlands, Italy and the US, committing to procure the aircraft under production. Britain has invested the highest amount – $2 billion – for…

Lockheed Martin F-35 Flew Just 10% of Planned 2009 Tests

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Fighter Country

The development phase of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet must be extended by at least one year to 2015 because the jet flew only about 10% of its planned test flights, according to the Pentagon’s chief weapon tester. The jet was supposed to be flight tested 168 times in fiscal 2009 but flew only 16 times, said Michael Gilmore, the Pentagon’s director of weapons testing. The F-35 program requires 5,000 flights to prove flight worthiness, including the performance of its electronics and software, according to a Bloomberg article. On January 15, Gilmore sent Congress his assessment of the…

F-35 Public Scoping Meeting Locations and Schedule (update)

Posted on January 23, 2010 by Fighter Country

Times and addresses have been announced for five public meetings next month on the F-35 possibly coming to Luke Air Force Base. The meetings are hosted in communities near the Glendale base and its operations. Luke is one of five bases on a short list to train pilots on the Joint Strike Fighter, the next generation of fighter jets. The meetings are for governmental agencies and residents to help identify the scope of issues to be addressed during the environmental study of Luke. The study could take up to a year to complete. Attendees at the meetings also will get…