Sort By

First F-35 Lightning II

A 33rd Fighter Wing maintainer watches as the first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter taxis in to its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Details Download

33rd FW Open House

Col. Andrew Toth addresses members of the 33rd Fighter Wing he commands at Eglin during the unit's open house event May 27. Air Force, Navy, Marine and contracted partners assigned to the DoD schoolhouse for F-35 maintainers and pilots had an opportunity give their first tour of the F-35 training campus to their loved ones. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chrissy Cuttita)

Details Download

33rd FW Open House

Eric Litton, F-35 Academic Training Center instructor, explains the phases of maintenance training to Gunnery Sergeant Trey Coon, 33rd Maintenance Group quality assurance NCO in charge, during the 33rd Fighter Wing's open house for members May 27. The sergeant and his wife, Rebecca, had the first time opportunity to look at the virtual classroom set up for F-35 maintainers. Mr. Litton said academics are step one before entering the classroom to conduct maintenance tasks using an avatar on screen with an electronic work order. According to the current syllabus, hands on training will begin in simulators and on the flight line after tasks are perfected in cyberspace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chrissy Cuttita)

Details Download

33rd FW Open House

Marine Capt. Mitch Grey and his family get an up close look at the Ejection System Maintenance Trainer at the Academic Training Center during the 33rd Fighter Wing's open house for personnel and family May 27. Ron Snider, instructor, briefed the family and other visitors on how the mock cockpit will be used for training DoD's future F-35 maintainers and pilots. Leaders at the wing created the half-day itinerary followed by a picnic to showcase the unit to their integrated team and build camaraderie among themselves and contracted partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chrissy Cuttita)

Details Download

Looking ahead

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. – U.S. Air Force crew chiefs Master Sgt. Timothy Weaver and Tech. Sgt. Lucas Delk from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base work with Pedro Vera, Lockheed Martin Airframe Powerplant Group, inside the F-35C internal weapons bay at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Seven airmen from Eglin are embedded with the F-35 Integrated Test Facility team here to gain hands-on experience on the F-35B and F-35C variants in preparation for the first Joint Strike Fighter arrival at Eglin and start of F-35 training for the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

Details Download

first production JSF

The first F-35A production aircraft that will be delivered to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., later this year takes off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base May 6 with Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti at the controls. The jet will go to Edwards AFB, Calif., to support developmental testing shortly after the Air Force takes delivery. As the first of its kind in the Department of Defense, the 33rd Fighter Wing is responsible for F-35 A/B/C (Joint Strike Fighter) pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force and, in the future, at least eight coalition partners. Initially, 59 aircraft and three flying squadrons, one for each service/aircraft variant, will be established at Eglin. (Courtesy photo)

Details Download

Training talk

Marine Col. Art Tomessetti, 33rd Fighter Wing vice commander, explains how his team is preparing to train future pilots and maintainer of the F-35 to Okaloosa County commissioners during their tour here Dec. 14. (Courtesy photo by Kathy Newby)

Details Download

Decoration

Robert Owens, 796th Civil Engineer Squadron, removes the straps from the new F-35 Lightning II static display in front of the 53rd Wing building Nov. 3. The static display compliments the F-22 display on the left side of the entrance. The 53rd Wing will be responsible for the operational testing of the F-35 aircraft. (Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.)

Details Download

Low flying

Robert Owens, 796th Civil Engineer Squadron, brings the new F-35 Lightning II static display into place in front of the 53rd Wing building Nov. 3. The static display compliments the F-22 display on the left side of the entrance. The 53rd Wing will be responsible for the operational testing of the F-35 aircraft. (Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.)

Details Download

Slight adjustment

Robert Owens, 796th Civil Engineer Squadron, prepares to slide the new F-35 Lightning II static display into place in front of the 53rd Wing building Nov. 3. The static display compliments the F-22 display on the left side of the entrance. The 53rd Wing will be responsible for the operational testing of the F-35 aircraft. (Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.)

Details Download

A little higher

Robert Owens, 796th Civil Engineer Squadron, gives direction to the lift driver while centering up the new F-35 Lightning II static display in front of the 53rd Wing building Nov. 3. The static display compliments the F-22 display on the left side of the entrance. The 53rd Wing will be responsible for the operational testing of the F-35 aircraft. (Air Force photo/ Samuel King Jr.)

Details Download

plane sign

Lt. Col. John Wilbourne, 58th Fighter Squadron commander, autographs the first F-35 that will arrive at Eglin. The squadron, which falls under the 33rd Fighter Wing, were in Fort Worth training in the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics simulators and visiting the production line to sign the actual plane they will be first to fly. (Courtesy Photo).

Details Download

Hover craft

The first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II short takeoff, vertical landing stealth fighter demonstrated the capability to hover March 17, during a test flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The flight was a significant test mission leading up to the aircraft’s first vertical landing. It confirmed predictions of the jet’s vertical thrust, stability and control in hovering flight. The flight began with a conventional takeoff before F-35 lead STOVL Pilot Graham Tomlinson initiated conversion to STOVL mode at 200 knots airspeed. He then slowed the aircraft to 60 knots and flew a decelerating approach to a zero airspeed hover at 150 feet above the runway. This marked the first free air hover in the F-35B Lightning II aircraft. Upon reaching zero airspeed, the pilot executed test points to confirm the controllability of the aircraft in the hover. After completing all hover test points, the pilot executed a STOVL landing at 70 knots airspeed. Later in the day, BF-1 performed the first F-35 short takeoff. Matching performance predictions, the F-35B accelerated down the runway in STOVL mode and lifted off at 100 knots using less than 1000 feet of runway. The successful tests are the latest steps in demonstrating the F-35B’s ability to conduct operations from small ships and unprepared fields, enabling expeditionary operations around the world.

Details Download

Nice HUD

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Navy Capt. Mike Saunders, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, tries on the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter helmet after getting measured for the new flight suit. The new pilot equipment includes everything from underwear to cold weather outer gear to anti-G garments. The measurement brought Eglin one step closer to being able to commence training, said Marine Col. Arthur Tomassetti, 33rd Fighter Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

Details Download

One pilot, two suits

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Navy Capt. Mike Saunders, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, describes the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter pilot equipment after getting measured for the new flight suit. The new pilot equipment includes everything from underwear to cold weather outer gear to anti-G garments. The measurement brought Eglin one step closer to being able to commence training, said Marine Col. Arthur Tomassetti, 33rd Fighter Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

Details Download

Legacy lives on

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- “Legacy” flight suits were display as Air Force, Navy and Marine pilots were fitted for the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter equipment. The new pilot equipment includes everything from underwear to cold weather outer gear to anti-G garments. The measurement brought Eglin one step closer to being able to commence training, said Marine Col. Arthur Tomassetti, 33rd Fighter Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

Details Download

Kloos named to J-35 instructor cadre

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLA. - Maj. Lee Kloos, the Air Force representative with the Joint Strike Fighter Site Activation Task Force program, has been named one of the 10 initial cadre of J-35 flight instructors. The lieutenant colonel-select will be the 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations when the 33rd Fighter Wing transitions from the Air Combat Command to the Air Education and Training Command in October.

Details Download