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  • Nellis pilots take first step toward F-35 operational testing

    Two officers from the operational test community are among the six pilots in the first F-35 Lightning II pilot training course after an Air Education and Training Command decision to start training here in January.Lt. Col. Benjamin Bishop, the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron director of

  • Joint program suspension lifted, F-35s fly again

    Another short-lived season of "cautionary suspension" has been lifted for F-35 Lightning II flying operations at Eglin, and the 33rd Fighter Wing resumed sortie generation March 1.An engine blade crack discovered at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Feb. 19 caused the entire joint strike fighter fleet

  • 728th controls F-35s for final mission

    The 62-year-old 728th Air Control Squadron Demons completed their final mission Jan. 31, adding the Air Force's newest aircraft, the F-35A Lightning II, to its exponential tally of controlled combat aircraft."Talk about going out on top," said Lt. Col. Jon Rhone, the 728th Air Control Squadron

  • First F-35A four-ship flies over Eglin

    Increasing capability is becoming routine for the F-35 Lightning II team.The 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit produced a four-turn-four for the 58th Fighter Squadron flying Jan 31. "The pilots flew four F-35As in the morning and the maintainers performed routine maintenance for airworthiness after

  • 59th TES gets new data lab

    The 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron is scheduled to open its new data lab facility Feb. 8.The new lab is being built to accommodate the new F-35 Lightning II slated to arrive here this year along with the existing F-22 Raptors.With the F-35 being more advanced than the legacy fleet of F-15 Eagles

  • F-35 training 'Year of execution' in review

    This time last year, the 33rd Fighter Wing stood up its Marine squadron with a fleet of aircraft with the thought 2012 would be their "year of execution."Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs stationed here would take off for their first of hundreds of sorties that year once they had their military flight

  • AETC declares Eglin ready for F-35 training

    Following an independent evaluation of Eglin's capability to conduct F-35A Lightning II pilot training, Air Education and Training Command announced today the 33rd Fighter Wing can do so, starting in January. "The preliminary results provided by the Joint Operational Test Team show the F-35A