UK F-35

United Kingdom Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Jim Schofield poses for a photo after he piloted the first British F-35B Lightning II from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, July 23. The jet is the first international variant of the joint strike fighter to be based at the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. U.K. maintainers and pilots will be imbedded in the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 and U.K. pilot training begins this fall. In the near future, the U.K. will be doing operation test preparation activity, leading the way to maintain the jets and becoming instructor pilots. .The U.K. officially took ownership of the aircraft at a Lockheed Martin ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, July 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

F-35

(U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

100th F-35 sortie

Marine Lt. Col. David Berke, commanding officer for the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 is all smiles after he flew the 100th F-35 Lightning II sortie at the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. July 11. The 33rd FW’s 100 flights completed include 74 F-35A sorties and 26 F-35B sorties. Current flying operations at the wing consist of Marine and Air Force fighter pilots checking out in the F-35 variants for each service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

100th F-35 sortie

Marine Lt. Col. David Berke, commanding officer for the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, taxis in from completing the 100th F-35 Lightning II sortie at the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. July 11. The 33rd FW’s 100 flights completed include 74 F-35A sorties and F-35B sorties. Current flying operations at the wing consist of Marine and Air Force fighter pilots checking out in the F-35 variants for each service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

first F-35B sortie

Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann, a Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron-501 pilot, takes off in his first F-35B sortie from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 22. The goal for Marines was to start local area operations and conventional flights, beginning the process of gradually expanding the envelope to short takeoffs and vertical landings and more complex aerial training. The historic flight was airborne during the Marine Corps' 100th year of aviation, two months after 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing officially introduced the service's fifth generation fighter to the world at the 33rd Fighter Wing. (Lockheed Martin photo/David Drais)

First F-35B sortie

Members of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, contract partners and 33rd Fighter Wing personnel watch the first F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter sortie May 22. The goal for Marines was to start local area operations and conventional flights, beginning the process of gradually expanding the envelope to short takeoffs and vertical landings and more complex aerial training.The historic flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., was airborne during the Marine Corps' 100th year of aviation, two months after 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing officially introduced the service's fifth generation fighter to the world at the 33rd Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

33 FW

(From left) Col. Andrew Toth, the 33rd Fighter Wing commander and Terry Yonkers, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, listen as Staff Sgt. Anthony Stewart, the 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, describes the capabilities of the F-35 Joint Strike Air Force Base, Fla., April 20. Yonkers was at Eglin participating in Earth Day events and touring the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Spaits)

JSF formation

Two F-35A Lightning IIs from the 33rd Fighter Wing soar over Eglin Air Force Base's range during the unit’s first joint strike fighter formation flight April 10. Lt. Col. Eric Smith, 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, flew the lead aircraft while Marine Maj Joseph Bachmann, Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 aircraft maintenance officer, flew wingman. The pilots, both first in their service qualified to fly the 5th generation aircraft, were validating pilot syllabus objectives in preparation for future training. The 33rd FW is responsible for F-35 A/B/C pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and in the future, at least eight coalition partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Ryan Seymour)

1st operational refuel

An F-35A Lightning II from the 33rd Fighter Wing soars alongside a KC-135R Stratotanker and an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the unit’s first joint strike fighter air-to-air refuel mission April 11. Lt. Col. Eric Smith, 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations and first Air Force qualified F-35 pilot, flew the mission. The 33rd FW is responsible for F-35 A/B/C pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and in the future, at least eight coalition partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Casey Smith)

1st F-35A refueling mission

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, connects his F-35A Lightning II with a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 155th Air Refueling Wing, Neb., during the first joint strike fighter air-to-air refueling accomplished by the 33rd Fighter Wing April 11. Smith also used the flight to maintain his refueling currency and proficiencies received while certifying to be the Air Force’s first F-35A pilot last summer. The 33rd FW is responsible for F-35 A/B/C pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and in the future, at least eight coalition partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Casey Smith)

Fill'er up

James Murr, a seven-year member of the 96th Petroleum Oil and Lubricants flight, refuels the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter’s 18,000 pound internal fuel tanks after its sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20. POL is responsible for delivering fuel to all aircraft on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Fill'er up

Staff Sgt. Jason Anderson, of the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, connects the fuel hose to the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter to refuel the aircraft after its sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20. The 33rd Fighter Wing receives fuel for their aircraft from the 96th Petroleum Oil and Lubricants flight, part of the 96th Air Base Wing. POL is responsible for delivering fuel to all aircraft on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The take off

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter lifts off for its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. It’s the first flight of any 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 since their arrival to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

The crew chief

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Houser, a 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainer, communicates with the pilot of the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter during flight checks prior to the first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Houser was the crew chief for the first sortie. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Secure

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, secures his helmet from the cockpit of the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Entering the cockpit

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, prepares to enter the cockpit of the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The walkaround

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, inspects the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter prior to its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The take-off

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter lifts off for its first training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. It’s the first flight of any 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 since its arrival to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The taxi

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter taxis out for its first training sortie followed by an F-16 chase aircraft March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The brief

(Right to left) Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the first Air Force qualified F-35 pilot, Maj. Joseph Bachmann, the first Marine qualified F-35 pilot, and Lt. Col. Lee Kloos, the 58th Fighter Squadron commander, receive an operations brief from Lt. Col. Todd LaFortune before stepping out for the first-ever F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The helmet

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, undergoes a computerized helmet test prior to stepping to the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter for its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. The helmet is tested with a computer before each sortie. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The suit

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations, zips up his flight suit prior to stepping to the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter for its first-ever training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Smith is the first Air Force pilot qualified to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

First flight

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter lifts off for its first training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. It’s the first flight of any 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 since their arrival to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

First flight

The F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter lifts off for its first training sortie March 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. It’s the first flight of any 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 since their arrival to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)