A Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 308th Fighter Squadron prepares for takeoff Sept. 15, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The RNLAF arrived at Luke AFB in February 2019 and s More
An F-35A Lightning II lands while an F-16 Fighting Falcon prepares for takeoff, Dec. 15, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Luke AFB’s mission is to train F-16 and F-35 fighter pilots and has graduated more More
A P-51 Mustang and an F-35A Lightning II fly in formation during the Defenders of Liberty Air & Space Show at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., May 19, 2019. The airshow was first held in 1933 and is a full weeken More
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 308th Fighter Squadron breaks away from a four-ship formation Nov. 6, 2019, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The F-35 is a multi-role fighter aircraft that can reach the speed More
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron executes a touch-and-go maneuver during sunset, Nov. 2, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The F-35 is the Air Force’s latest fifth-generation fig More
An F-35A Lightning II crew works on their plane Nov. 5, 2017 during the Tora Tora Tora Airshows reenactment of the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The demonstration was part of the Joint Base San More
Spectators watch the F-35A Lightning II perform during the Defenders of Liberty Air & Space Show at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., May 18, 2019. The airshow was first held in 1933 and is a full weekend of mili More
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 63rd Fighter Squadron taxis to the runway April 8, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Luke AFB has graduated more than 61,000 pilots since 1941. Luke AFB is home to 77 F-1 More
A U.S. Air Force crew chief assigned to the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Lightning Aircraft Maintenance Unit marshals an F-35A Lightning II aircraft into a parking spot at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Mar More
Sailors from Strike Fighter Squadron-101, refuel an F/A-18 Hornet during a hot pit session on the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Airmen, Marines and sailors are refueling their F-35 More
Staff Sgt. Steven Dash, of the 33rd Maintenance Group, places a warhead on the front of a guided-bomb-unit 12 before it’s attached to an F-35A Lightning II Aug. 27 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This marked the More
Maj. Kris Elmstedt, 61st Fighter Squadron F-35 instructor pilot, steps to an F-35A Lightning II to participate in a transitional training sortie at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., July 18, 2018. Pilots with experie More
A child waves an American Flag pennant as an F-35A Lightning II flies past the crowd during the Defenders of Freedom Air and Space Air Show at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 11, 2018. The F-35 HFT performanc More
An F-35A Lightning II receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender assigned to the 76th Air Refueling Squadron during a refueling mission July 12, 2018 over the Atlantic Ocean. Two F-35s refueled seven times while in ro More
The 17th Luke Air Force Base F-35A Lightning II jet arrived at Luke Air Force Base Dec. 18, 2014. The jet accompanied the first Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II to arrive here. (U.S. Air Force phot More
Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, puts on her helmet before taking her first flight in the F-35A on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike E More
Lt. Col. Matthew Vedder, 62nd Fighter Squadron director of operations, gives the Phoenix Suns basketball team a briefing on the F-35A Lightning II Nov. 5, 2015, on Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The Phoenix Suns vi More
Senior Airman Luke Pommier, 91st Air Refueling Squadron, watches for F-35A Lightning II receivers from the boom pod of a KC-135 Stratotanker during a refuel mission over the Gulf of Mexico near Eglin Air Force More
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jet, assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., visits McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., for the first time to train with F-16 Fightin More
A Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcon flies a close formation with an F-35A Lightning II over Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., May 5, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz)
A 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief prepares an F-35A for take off Aug. 2, 2016, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-35A is the latest deployable fifth generation aircraft capable of providing air super More
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Avionic technicians and crew chiefs perform a post-operation servicing to an F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., while on the More
An F-35A Lightning II from the 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, sits on the flightline at Nellis AFB, Nev., during Red Flag 17-1, Jan. 24, 2017. This is the first-time F-35A crews are participatin More
U.S. Air Force Maj. Nathaniel Lightfoot, 71st Fighter Training Squadron aggressor pilot, returns from a combat training mission during ATLANTICTRIDENT 17 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., April 18, 2016. The More
U.S. Air Force, French air force and Royal air force fly in formation during ATLANTIC TRIDENT 17 near Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., April 26, 2017. The exercise simulated a highly-contested, degraded and oper More
An F-35A Lightning II takes its show to the moon during the 2017 Star Spangled Salute air show at Tinker AFB May 21. The joint strike fighter was one of more than 50 statics and aerial acts on display for the a More
Capt. Andrew "Dojo" Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander performs aerial maneuvers during the Oregon International Airshow Sept. 22, 2019, in McMinnville, Oregon. The F-35 Demo Team co-headlined t More
Capt. Andrew "Dojo" Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander flies over the Golden Gate Bridge during the Fleet Week Airshow Oct. 11, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. The waterfront event attracts thous More
Capt. Andrew "Dojo" Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander flies over the San Francisco Bay during the Fleet Week Airshow Oct. 12, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. The waterfront event attracts thousa More
Capt. Andrew "Dojo" Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander flies over the San Francisco Bay during the Fleet Week Airshow Oct. 13, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. The waterfront event attracts thousa More
Capt. Andrew "Dojo" Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander performs aerial maneuvers during the Wings Over Houston Airshow Oct. 18, 2019, in Houston, Texas. The show featured performances from the U More
Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 “Wake Island Avengers,” 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, stand by as a pilot conducts preflight checks in an F-35B Lightning II on the first day of Red Flag 17-3 More
Maj. Andrew "Dojo" Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander waves to airshow fans following his final flight during the Aviation Nation Airshow Nov. 17, 2019, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The tea More
U.S. Air Force pilots with the 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Operations Group, 56th Fighter Wing based at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., walk to aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Aug. 23. The F-3 More
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II moves in to get refueled by a KC-10 Extender crewed by members of the 78th and 76th Air Refueling Squadrons, 514th Air Mobility Wing, over California, Sept. 13, 2017. The mis More
Airman 1st Class Dakota Zimmer, a crew chief assigned to 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, launches an F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Oct. 30, 2017. Twelve jets and nearly 300 Airme More
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. David Moore, an F-35A Lightning II pilot from the 34th Fighter Squadron, climbs out of the cockpit after a flight from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii More
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, taxis down the flightline during its first-ever deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 2, 2017. The F More
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jared Santos, 513th Electronic Warfare Squadron commander, walks to an F-35A Lightning II Nov. 14, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The 33rd Fighter Wing supported Checkered Flag 18-1 More
U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, prepare to take-off at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 16, 2017. Twelve F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters from Hill AFB, 388th a More
The sun rises behind an F-35A Lightning II during the Aviation Nation Airshow Nov. 16, 2019, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The F-35 Demo Team performed their final performance of the 2019 airshow season. (U More
From left, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Eddie Lipscomb, Senior Airman Tyler Metcalf and Airman 1st Class Michael Ridgeway, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew members, position a Joint Direct Atta More
U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs and Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-15 Eagles fly in formation during bi-lateral training Dec. 4, 2017, over the Pacific Ocean. The F-35A is deployed under the U.S. Pacific More
U.S. Air Force Col. Paul D. Moga, 33rd Fighter Wing commander, and Airman 1st Class Landon Overshiner, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, discuss a plan for cleaning an F-35A Lightning II Jan. 8, 20 More
Capt. Kristin "BEO" Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team pilot and commander flies during a demonstration practice at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Mar. 17, 2020. This was scheduled to be the last local pr More
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander performs a dedication pass in an F-35A Lightning II during the annual Heritage Flight Training Course March 1, 2019, at Davis-Monthan Air F More
Capt. Kristin Wolfe, 34th Fighter Squadron, taxis an F-35A Lightning II May 5, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base Utah, upon returning from a six-month deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Kristin "BEO" Wolfe, the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team commander, exercises planned maneuvers on Hill Air Force Base on Feb. 10, 2020. The team regularly performs the flight routine More
U.S. Air Force Capt. Kristin Wolfe, the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team commander, talks to her team of maintainers as she steps to the F-35A Lightning II. The team practices their routine several times p More
Margot Carrington, left, Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy Tokyo, congratulates U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sarah Lopez, right, the 35th Medical Operations Squadron emergency services flight chi More
An F-35A Lightning II, assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing, takes off from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Aug. 3, 2018. Currently 72 F-35’s are assigned to Luke AFB flying more than 20,000 hours since first arriving More
The sun shines on a Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Aug. 6, 2018. The first Australian F-35 arrived at Luke AFB in December 2014. Currently six Australian F-35's are More
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Heritage Flight Team pilot and commander performs aerial maneuvers in the F-35A Lightning II during the Chicago Air and Water Show in Chicago, Illinois, Aug. 18, 2018. More than More
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Zackary Wagner, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, examines a computer control group Aug. 29, 2018, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Weapons crews regularly load More
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Heritage Flight Team pilot and commander, performs a high-speed pass during the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto, Sept. 1, 2018. The F-35 HFT’s performance consists of More
Staff Sgt. Jonathan Morris, right, and Senior Airman Zachary Weimar, both assigned to 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, compete in a load competition at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Oct. 12, 2018. (U.S. Air Force More
Airman 1st Class Allison Tomas, 466th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, competes in a load competition at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Oct. 12, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by R. Nial Bradshaw)
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Heritage Flight Team pilot and commander performs a high-speed pass in an F-35A Lightning II during the Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show Oct. 14, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas. Equ More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Frederick Riley, 33rd Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems journeyman, was selected to provide the 31st Test and Evaluations Squadron with F-35A Lightning II maintenance mann More
View of a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II, with the 34th Fighter Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing, out of Hill Air Force Base, Utah, preparing to be refueled by a KC-10 Extender flown by the 76th Air Refuel Squad More
From left, U.S. Army Capt. John Logan and Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Brodhead, 358th Ground Liaison Detachment, 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment ground liaison officers attached to the 33rd Operations Suppor More
William Paap, 33rd Fighter Wing pilot for a day, stands in front of an F-35A Lightning II with his family Nov. 20, 2018, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Pilot For A Day program aims to give local children wit More
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 58th Fighter Squadron awaits permission to taxi as an F-22 Raptor assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron takes off in the background, Dec. 4, 2018, at Eglin Air Force Base, More
Harvey Brugger, 56th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, watches an F-35A Lightning II taxi down the runway, Dec. 13, 2018, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Brugger is an aviation enthusiast with a More
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35A Lightning II Demo Team pilot, practices the demonstration at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 7, 2019. The F-35 demo team is scheduled to participate in 15 air shows around the More
A Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program pilot in the back seat of a T-6A Texan II watches as an F-35A Lightning II lands at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 10, 2019. Four F-35s from Eglin AFB, Fla., s More
A pilot assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron and 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chiefs prepare an F-35A Lightning II for taxi, Jan. 15, 2019 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Crew chiefs work with pilots to e More
Pilots from the 388th Fighter Wing's 4th Fighter Sqaudron prepare for launch, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 31, 2019. Pilots and maintainers from the 388th Fighter Wing's 4th Fighter Squadron and 4th Airc More
An F-35A Lightning II takes off at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 1, 2019. Pilots and maintainers from the 388th Fighter Wing's 4th Fighter Squadron and 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are participating in Red More
Crew chiefs maintain F-35A Lightning II fighter jets during Red Flag 19-1, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 4, 2019. Pilots and maintainers from the 388th Fighter Wing's 4th Fighter Squadron and 4th Aircraft More
Senior Airmen Brycen Stone, left, and Johnathon Butler, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chiefs, exit the flight line during Red Flag 19-1, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 5, 2019. This was the 388th Fighte More
An F-35A Lightning II pilot from the 388th Fighter Wing's 4th Fighter Squadron prepares to launch during Red Flag 19-1, Nelllis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 6, 2019. Pilots and maintainers from the 388th Fighte More
An F-35A Lightning II fighter jet assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing's 4th Fighter Squadron on the flight line during Red Flag 19-1, Nelllis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 6, 2019. Pilots and maintainers from the 3 More
Staff Sgt. Derek Leuzinger, F-35 Demonstration Team dedicated crew chief, prepares to perform the recovery ground show at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 26, 2019. The team prepared to perform their f More
F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander, Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson and his wingman, Maj. Aaron “Gambit” Stevens, depart the 357th Fighter Squadron March 2, 2019, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Olson More
A pilot from the 388th Fighter Wing’s 421st Fighter Squadron prepares to launch an F-35A Lightning II during night flying operations at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, March 26, 2019. Night flying is required for pi More
A T-38C Talon, assigned to Vance Air Force Base, Okla., sits on the flightline, March 26, 2019, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The T-38C is one of more than 30 visiting aircraft for the annual Haboob Havoc aeria More
An F-35A Lightning II, Douglas A-1 Skyraider, and P-51 Mustang fly all fly in formation as part of a Heritage Flight during the Melbourne Air and Space Show March 30, 2019, in Melbourne, Fla. The heritage fligh More
Capt. Andrew “Dojo Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander performs the tactical pitch maneuver in an F-35A Lightning II during the Heart of Texas Airshow April 7, 2019. The F-35 Demo Team performed More
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander waves to air show guests following an aerial demonstration during the Heart of Texas Airshow April 7, 2019, at Waco, Texas. The weather cle More
Airman 1st Class Talon Nichols, 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, prepares munitions to be loaded onto an F-35A Lightning II, April 11, 2019, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Nichols was par More
Lt. Col. Yosef Morris, 4th Fighter Squadron commander, with the 388th Fighter Wing, taxis prior to launching on the F-35As first deployment to the Middle East. Airmen in the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings arrive More
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flies overhead prior to their first landing at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, April 15, 2019. The F-35A Lightning II is deploy More
Two F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron fly overhead prior to their first landing at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, April 15, 2019. The F-35A Lightning II is deploy More
Components of an F-35A Lightning II arctic survival kit lie on a table at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 24, 2019. A standard survival kit includes a compass, a flare and a five-inch knife. The cold-weat More
Staff Sgt. Karl Tesch, 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief, performs an inspection prior to launch check on an F-35A Lightning II April 26, 2019, at Al Dhafra Air Base, Uni More
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team commander and pilot performs a dedication pass in an F-35A Lightning II during the 2019 Wings Over Wayne Airshow April 27, 2019, at Seymour Johnson Air Force B More
An F-35A takes off during a combat exercise at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, May 1, 2019. The active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing, along with F-16 units from Holloman AFB, New Mexico, and More
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander performs a dedication pass in an F-35A Lightning II during the Defenders of Liberty Air & Space Show at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., May More
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing arrives at Aviano Air Base, Italy, for a Theater Security Package, May 25, 2019. A Theater Security Package is a rotationa More
A formation of 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron members salutes Lt. Col. Joshua Arki during a change of command ceremony May 30, 2019 at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. Arki took command of the F-35 More
An F-35A Lightning II from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, at Hill AFB, Utah, takes off at Aviano Air Base, Italy on May 31, 2019. The F-35 is in Italy for a Theater Security package. (U.S. Air Force photo b More
F-35A fighter pilots perform preflight checks during Astral Knight 2019 on June 3, 2019, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The F-35s are deployed to Aviano AB to participate in exercises like Astral Knight 2019 and co More
An F-35A Lightning II from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, at Hill AFB, Utah, takes off on the first day of Astral Knight 19 at Aviano Air Base, Italy, on June 3, 2019. The F-35 is a 5th Generation jet with More
Italian Air Force Maj. Gen. Silvano Frigerio, Commander of Combat Forces, speaks during Astral Knight 2019 on June 4, 2019, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Frigerio spoke about Astral Knight 2019, a multinational in More
Senior Airman Chase Gilmour, 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, prepares an F-35A Lightning II fighter jet for refueling during Astral Knight 2019 on June 5, 2019, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The F-35s More
An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 555th Fighter Squadron lands, during Astral Knight 2019, at Aviano Air Base, Italy, June 5, 2019. The F-16 flew with the fifth generation F-35A Lightning II allowing for integr More
A 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron F-35A Lightning II pilot, holds a 48-star U.S. flag June 6, 2019, at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The flag is a three-generation family heirloom of Tech. Sgt. K More
An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 555th Fighter Squadron takes off during Astral Knight 2019, at Aviano Air Base, Italy, June 6, 2019. The Nickel’s F-16s flew alongside F-35A Lightning IIs allowing for integrat More
An F-35A Lightning II fighter jet takes off during Astral Knight 2019 on June 6, 2019, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The U.S. Air Force has deployed one squadron of F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, Airmen, and ass More