Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

Marines of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 and their families came out to see the arrival of the first F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter to its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Marines of VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs Jan. 11. The first one was escorted by Marine F-18 Hornets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chrissy Cuttita.)

Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

Maintainers with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 move in to secure the wheels of their new aircraft, the F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter variant at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Marines of VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs Jan. 11. Both aircraft were escorted in by Marine F-18 Hornets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chrissy Cuttita.)

Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Smith, a maintainer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501, recovered the first Marine variant F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter to arrive at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Smith, a maintainer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501, recovered the first Marine variant F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter to arrive at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

A Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 maintainer stands by as the first Marine variant F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter is marshaled into place in front of the squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Marines of VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs Jan. 11. Both aircraft were escorted in by Marine F-18 Hornets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

A Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 maintainer stands by as the first Marine variant F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter is marshaled into place in front of the squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Marines of VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs Jan. 11. Both aircraft were escorted in by Marine F-18 Hornets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

The Marine Corp’s newest aircraft, the F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter touches down at its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The newest aircraft in the Department of Defense inventory belongs to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501. The Marines of VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs Jan. 11. Both aircraft were escorted in by Marine F-18 Hornets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

The Marine Corp’s newest aircraft, the F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter touches down at its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The newest aircraft in the Department of Defense inventory belongs to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501. The Marines of VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs Jan. 11. Both aircraft were escorted in by Marine F-18 Hornets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

DoD’s first production F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter flies toward its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., escorted by Marine Corps F-18Hornets. The Marine variant of the JSF belongs to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501. The Marines of VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs Jan. 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

Marine F-35B arrives at Eglin

DoD’s first production F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter flies toward its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., escorted by Marine Corps F-18 Hornets. The Marine variant of the JSF belongs to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501. The Marines of VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs Jan. 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

Military qualify for F-35 inspections

Staff Sgt.s Jonathan Morris, Andrew Fries, Matthew Reed and Master Sgt. Scott Grabham, of the 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, receive training on F-35A crew station post operations inspections Dec. 12. They are part of the first group of military joint strike fighter maintainers at the 33rd Fighter Wing qualified in numerous F-35A flight inspections initially provided by contractor support. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Westberry)

46th weapons load competition

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Merritt, of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, directs the loader to where the Guided Bomb Unit-12 goes during the 46th Maintenance Group’s fourth quarter weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Dec. 21. The best of Blue AMU and Red AMU met to load an AIM-9 and GBU-12 onto an F-16 and F-15 respectively. AMU Red won the competition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)