EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Marine aviators of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 completed four sorties this week in F-16 Fighting Falcons to ensure readiness and efficiency in the transition to the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The F-16s from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., were brought to the 33rd Fighter Wing because of its flying characteristics are similar to the F-35. The Marine variant of JSF, the F-35B, contains a short take-off and vertical landing engine. The STOVL variant will replace the Marine Corps inventory of F/A-18s and AV-8s. The F-35B will be the world's first operational supersonic STOVL aircraft. Eglin Air Force Base is home of the JSF training center. (Source: AFNS, 03/21/11)
NEWS: A digest of aerospace, defense and technology news from the Gulf Coast I-10 region
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Marines take to air to prep for F-35
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Marine aviators of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 completed four sorties this week in F-16 Fighting Falcons to ensure readiness and efficiency in the transition to the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The F-16s from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., were brought to the 33rd Fighter Wing because of its flying characteristics are similar to the F-35. The Marine variant of JSF, the F-35B, contains a short take-off and vertical landing engine. The STOVL variant will replace the Marine Corps inventory of F/A-18s and AV-8s. The F-35B will be the world's first operational supersonic STOVL aircraft. Eglin Air Force Base is home of the JSF training center. (Source: AFNS, 03/21/11)