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RIAT 2016
Jan 25, 2016 19:25:40 GMT
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Post by andypspotter on Jan 25, 2016 19:25:40 GMT
The U.S. Marine Corps on Monday said it would send a pair of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets to two air shows in Britain this summer, a key milestone for the $391 billion weapons program after its thwarted international debut in 2014.
Some U.S. Air Force F-35 jets will also take part in the events, according to sources familiar with the plans. Air Force officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
A fleetwide F-35 grounding ordered after an engine fire in 2014 prevented what would have been the jets' international premiere at the annual Royal International Air Tattoo and an appearance at the world's biggest air show in Farnborough, outside London, both that year.
Since then, an F-35 jet assembled in Italy has made its inaugural flight there, but this year's appearance at RIAT will be the first by the stealthy, supersonic new warplane at an international air show.
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Post by andypspotter on Jan 27, 2016 13:34:07 GMT
Confirmation of participation by the USAF with their F-35As.
The Air Force is taking the future of airpower to international audiences in England this summer.
The 56th Fighter Wing from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, will send F-35A Lightning IIs to fly in heritage flights and to be on public display at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Royal Air Force Fairford, England, and the Farnborough International Airshow. This will be the first time the Air Force sends an F-35 to an overseas airshow.
"We're very excited about demonstrating this capability to the world," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "The F-35 represents a new way of thinking about data integration, weapons and tactics. We're thrilled to highlight the program and the amazing Airmen who support this cutting-edge fighter."
The Air Force Heritage Flight program features modern Air Force fighter aircraft flying alongside World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War-era aircraft in a dynamic display of our nation's airpower history.
"Being a part of these heritage flights allows the world to learn more about the F-35 and at the same time see just how far airpower has come over the years," said Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, the 56th Fighter Wing commander. "The F-35 will be the backbone of the Air Force fighter fleet and represent the future for the U.S., our partners and allies. This will be a great opportunity for everyone to see how amazing the F-35 is."
The Royal International Air Tattoo is scheduled for July 7 through 9, and the Farnborough International Airshow will be July 11 through 17.
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RIAT 2016
Feb 21, 2016 23:17:59 GMT
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Post by andypspotter on Feb 21, 2016 23:17:59 GMT
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RIAT 2016
Feb 24, 2016 0:02:38 GMT
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Post by andypspotter on Feb 24, 2016 0:02:38 GMT
F-22s will be attending according to this schedule:
12-13 March - Davis Monthan AFB, AZ 29 Mar-3 April - Santiago, Chile 9-10 April - Lakeland, FL 22-24 April - Langley AFB, VA 30 Apr - 1 May - MCAS Cherry Point, NC 7-8 May - Lincoln, NE 11 May - Cape Girardeau, MO 14-15 May - St. Louis, MO 21-22 May - Latrobe PA 4-5 June - Smyrna, TN 17-19 June - Dayton, OH 25-26 June - RCF Trenton, Ontario, Canada 8-10 July - RAF Fairford, United Kingdom 23 Jul - Eielson AFB, AK 30-31 July - Elmendorf AFB, AK 20-21 August - Ypsilanti, MI 3-5 September - Cleveland, OH 10-11 September - NAS Oceana, VA 16-18 September - London, Ontario, Canada 24-25 September - Santa Rosa, CA 8-9 October - San Fransisco, CA 15-16 October - Baltimore, MD 29-30 October - NAS Patuxent River, MD 12-13 November - Nellis AFB
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RIAT 2016
Jun 29, 2016 22:45:08 GMT
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Post by andypspotter on Jun 29, 2016 22:45:08 GMT
The first three F-35Bs to leave the United States land in the United Kingdom today (29/6) having left the US this morning. The Air Force’s two F-35As leave tomorrow.
Perhaps the highlight of this year’s Farnborough Air Show and Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) will come when the B models, used by the US Marines and Royal Navy pilots flying to and from the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers, perform a refueling with a KC-130 airborne tanker at both events.
I hear the Bs may also perform a flyover of the HMS Queen Elizabeth, first of her class. Royal Navy pilots will fly F-35Bs from the Elizabeth and Prince of Wales carriers. (When not aboard ship, they will be based at RAF Marham.)
The B models will also perform hovers at the air shows, though I don’t think they will land. Also, the aircraft will not stay at Farnborough. Instead, they will fly from RAF Fairford and return there after each flight.
The F-35As will fly as part of that the Air Force is calling its heritage flight, as pictured below. These aircraft are flying at 11 air shows across the US this year, as well as at the UK shows.
The flights will be testament to Britain’s early commitment to the F-35 program, as well as proof that the planes can do what they’ll need to do on the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers being built with them in mind. The flights will also be a counter to the Russian and Chinese aircraft being hawked at the shows. While doing airshow appearances doesn’t prove combat capability, they do demonstrate that the planes are reliable enough to fly across the Atlantic, that they can be refueled in flight, and that they demonstrate something the Navy pays a great deal of attention to — presence.
The planes’ flights at RIAT will give the air chiefs assembled from around the world — including presumably the Chinese — their first closeup (legal) look at the F-35.
In addition to the flights, RIAT will boast a host of senior officials from F-35 partners countries, including Norway. We hear there will be a July 7 briefing by US Air Force, Marine Corps, Norwegian and British pilots.
Gen. Hawk Carlisle, head of Air Combat Command, is expected to brief reporters the same day as the pilot briefing, the day before RIAT officially starts. On the show’s first official day open to the public, senior officials from the British Defence Ministry will speak with us, in addition to Marine Deputy Commandant for Aviation Gen. John Davis and Gen. Frank Gorenc, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
All in all, presuming all goes as expected, this year will stand in stark contrast to the last UK shows, when much of the news focused on whether F-35s would show up and then why they didn’t.
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RIAT 2016
Jun 29, 2016 22:48:21 GMT
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Post by andypspotter on Jun 29, 2016 22:48:21 GMT
And the F-35Bs involved are:
ZM137 RAF 168726 / VM-18 VMFAT-501 168727 / VM-19 VMFAT-501
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RIAT 2016
Jun 30, 2016 20:11:21 GMT
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Post by andypspotter on Jun 30, 2016 20:11:21 GMT
The following F-35As have arrived in thw past 45 minutes (30/6):
12-5042/LF 12-5052/LF 12-5058/LF
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Post by adola68 on Jul 1, 2016 16:45:15 GMT
I went to Fairford on Weds and Thurs evenings to see the F-35s arrive. The weather was dreadful on both evenings and both times the F-35s arrived well after 8PM. To give you some idea on Thurs one of my photos was taken at ISO 3200!. Anyway here are the photos. Weds Evening - RAF & USMC F-35Bs RAF ZM137 USMC - 168727 USMC - 168726 Thurs Evening - USAF F-35As 12-5042 12-5052 12-5058
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Post by strobedaddy on Jul 1, 2016 21:18:01 GMT
Nice pics John , thanks for sticking them up !
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Post by mrbluesky on Jul 9, 2016 7:15:38 GMT
Likewise- great pic's Happy Days Bob
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