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)