Tag Archives: f-35b

First Production F-35B Delivered to Marines

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Marcus the Redshirt| Leave a comment

The Marine Corps has taken delivery of the first production model F-35B. It arrived to Eglin Air Force Base on 11 January and will be attached to Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Air Group 31, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing. VMFAT-501 is the only F-35B training squadron in the Marine Corps and will be where the first classes of pilots will learn the new craft. There are plans for additional F-35B training squadrons to be stationed at MCAS Beaufort, SC.

Also check out additional F-35B coverage and video of the F-35B arriving at Eglin is after the break.

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Meet LtCol Fred Schenk

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Marcus the Redshirt| Leave a comment

I posted an article on 5 October detailing the F-35B (Marine Corps variant of the Joint Strike Fighter) making it’s first shipboard vertical landing. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel posted a nice follow up to that story yesterday giving us a glimpse into the life of the pilot who made the landing, Marine LtCol Fred Schenk.

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F-35B First Shipboard Vertical Landing

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Marcus the Redshirt| 1 Comment

Aircraft nuts, take notice. The F-35B, also known as the Marine Corps variant of the Join Strike Fighter, has completed it’s first shipboard vertical landing aboard the USS Wasp. This is a vastly important step in the long road to being certified as fleet ready and would literally make or break the F-35B for the Marine Corps. Before we get to the aircraft pron, take a few minutes to read about some of the historyof the F-35 and the variants. It’s a long read, but very much worth it. Also required reading before you get the good stuff is a very good article over on Blackfive:  So How Much Dos an F-35 Actually Cost. Aircraft nuts know that there have been massive errors from many fronts on the cost of this program.

Pictures and video after the break.  Continue reading →

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