Our No 3 has just undertaken it's maiden ...
The third Joint Strike Fighter destined for the United Kingdom has taken its maiden flight.
On the 95th Anniversary of the RAF the F-35 Lightning II, serial XM137, took the first of a series of check flights piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Alan Norman. On completion of testing the aircraft will be handed to the Ministry of Defence whereupon it will join the first two UK aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base. At the Florida base XM137 join the pool of F-35s being used for pilot training.
The third aircraft is the first production example for the UK, the two currently in service being configured for testing. RAF Squadron Leader Frankie Buchler became the first overseas operational pilot to fly the Lightning II on 19 March.
The fifth-generation fighter aircraft combines stealth technology with fighter performance and will equip both RAF and Fleet Air Arm squadrons. The land base for the UK F-35 fleet of aircraft will be based RAF Marham where the first squadron is expected to arrive in 2018.
Coff.
Source RAF Tw@tter