EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Despite recent problems with the F-35 cost and development schedule, establishment of a training pipeline for pilots and maintainers for the Joint Strike Fighter remains on track. Navy Capt. Mike Saunders, deputy commander of the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin, told Navy Times the plan is to be ready with the first jet arrives. The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps plan to begin flying the F-35 within the next two years. The first simulators arrived in late March. The Marine Corps' training squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, stood up Friday. The Air Force created the 58th Fighter Squadron last year. The Navy's Strike Fighter Squadron 101 will stand up next year. (Source: Navy Times, 04/05/10)
NEWS: A digest of aerospace, defense and technology news from the Gulf Coast I-10 region
Monday, April 5, 2010
F-35 training remains on track
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Despite recent problems with the F-35 cost and development schedule, establishment of a training pipeline for pilots and maintainers for the Joint Strike Fighter remains on track. Navy Capt. Mike Saunders, deputy commander of the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin, told Navy Times the plan is to be ready with the first jet arrives. The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps plan to begin flying the F-35 within the next two years. The first simulators arrived in late March. The Marine Corps' training squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, stood up Friday. The Air Force created the 58th Fighter Squadron last year. The Navy's Strike Fighter Squadron 101 will stand up next year. (Source: Navy Times, 04/05/10)
