Arrives in UK
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ARTICLE SUMMARY NEWS HEADLINES UKAFM’s Alan Warnes F-35B Finally reports on the F-35’s historic deployment to the UK. Arrives in UK The future of UK air power. The three F-35Bs were joined by a pair of 1(F) Sqn Typhoons over the Irish Sea while en route to RAF Fairford. All photos, Crown Copyright unless stated F-35Bs arrive June 29 WO YEARS after its nine-hour flight from their base at to 17. Both events included failed attempt to get MCAS Beaufort in South Carolina. impressive role-demonstrations. Serial Unit Callsign Tto the UK, the F-35B They stayed at the USAF facility ZM137/ UK/ ‘Tabor 01’ Lightning II finally made its throughout their proposed three- To Scotland (BK-3) VMFAT-501 long-awaited appearance in week stay, making appearances at The F-35Bs had two days’ 168726/ USMC/ ‘Tabor 03’ British skies during late June. the Royal International Air Tattoo maintenance after their long VM-18 VMFAT-501 Three F-35Bs arrived at RAF (RIAT), which ran from July 8 to 10, journeys, but July 1 saw a pair 168727/ USMC/ ‘Tabor 02’ Fairford, Gloucestershire, in failing and Farnborough International fly up to Rosyth, Scotland, VM-19 VMFAT-501 light and rain on June 29, after a Air Show (FIAS) from July 11 where they performed a formation flypast over the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, which will be launched next year, and HMS Prince of Wales. The head of the Fleet Air Arm, Rear Admiral Keith Blount OBE, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in the nation’s return to aircraft carrier aviation and carrier strike. “Both ships have been designed from the keel up to operate with the F-35B, and the RAF and Royal Navy are working ever closer to see fixed-wing aircraft The transatlantic crossing took ten hours – two of the F-35Bs once more operating from Royal are seen here over Iceland. Navy aircraft carriers. I feel very proud to be part of it.” 4 AUGUST 2016 #341 www.airforcesmonthly.com ARTICLE SUMARY Visit www.airforcesdaily.comand subscribe for daily news stories. E-mail the news team at [email protected] Lockheed Martin Touch down! The fi rst UK F-35B to touch down on UK soil arrives at RAF Fairford during the evening of June 29. The carriers will provide more GREENLAND than 4 acres (16,200m2) of sovereign territory that can be ICELAND deployed around the world, Keflavík travelling in excess of 500nm (925km) a day. Both are capable of carrying up to 36 F-35Bs. Narsarsuaq Then RAF Marham The pair, ZM137 and 168727/ CANADA Glasgow ‘VM-19’, then headed down to RAF Marham, Norfolk and linked UK up with a specially marked Fairford 617 Sqn Tornado GR4 for their Gander London first appearance at the base. It will be home to the F-35 Atlantic Ocean Lightning Force, and will see Halifax the first aircraft, operated by USA 617 Sqn, arrive in April 2018. New YYorkork Westfield Barnes F-35B’s Primary Diversion Airfields Many of the base personnel Point of departure – MCAS Beaufort, South PAX came out to the airfield to see River Carolina (USA), NAS Patuxent River, Maryland the jet fly by, including Lightning (USA), Westfield Barnes Regional Airport, Force Commander Air Cdre Massachusetts (USA), Halifax International Harvey Smyth and OC (Designate) NAS Beaufort (Canada), Gander International (Canada), 617 Sqn, Wg Cdr John Butcher. Narsarsuaq (Greenland), Keflavik (Iceland), Lightning II 168727/‘VM-19’, Prestwick (Scotland), RAF Fairford (England). flown by Sqn Ldr Hugh Nichols, then made a touch-and-go Above: The RAF’s Chief of the Air Staff , Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford was at RAF Fairford to greet Sqn Ldr Nichols. The CAS said seeing the F-35Bs arrive was one of the highlights of his four years in offi ce. Left: The three pilots who fl ew the jets: Lt Col Richard ‘BC’ Rusnok (USMC), Major Jack ‘Norm’ Cronan (USMC) and the RAF’s Sqn Ldr Hugh Nichols. All previously fl ew the AV-8B/Harrier GR9. The two USMC pilots are part of VMX-1, the USMC’s F-35B operational evaluation unit at Edwards AFB, where they work with four F-35Bs. Lockheed Martin #341 AUGUST 2016 5 www.airforcesdaily.com ARTICLE SUMMARY NEWS UNITED KINGDOM - RIAT After flying over the carrier, the two F-35Bs were met by specially marked 617 Sqn ‘Dambusters’ Tornado GR4 ZG771, which accompanied them to RAF Marham. The unit will be the first British F-35B squadron to stand up. before flying past with its F135 Left: On July 1, two F-35Bs flew over engines in the VTOL position. HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is being Air Vice-Marshal Gerry Mayhew, built at Rosyth in Scotland. The tarpaulin on the deck is covering up Air Officer Commanding 1 Group, thermal metallic spray which is being said: “It was a proud and exciting applied to the flight deck to ensure it moment to have the F-35B can cope with the extraordinary heat Lightning II fly overhead RAF from the F-35B as it launches and recovers. Marham for the first time today. Below: Air Cdre Harvey Smyth, the “Alongside Typhoon, the Lightning Force Commander and a Lightning II will offer the RAF and former Harrier GR pilot, was pleased Royal Navy a cutting-edge frontline to see the F-35B finally appear at RAF Marham. Alan Warnes strike capability and the most powerful and comprehensive integrated sensor package of any fighter aircraft in history. “I have no doubt [it] will act as an inspiration for the current and future members of both services.” F-35’s home base As the future home of the UK’s F-35B Lightning Force, Marham is currently going through a massive modernisation project to ensure it is ready for the Heritage Flypast first jets’ arrival in April 2018. Lightning Force Commander Air Cdre Harvey Smyth said: “As part of Project Anvil, we’re rebuilding 90% of the base – there’ll be new runways, taxiways and buildings. We’ve already announced £300m of investment here and two more contracts will be awarded by the end of the year.” “The main reason we’re building Key - Glenn Sands from scratch [is that] we’re THREE F-35As (serialled below) Heritage Team. This is the first year Heritage Flypast destroying the old infrastructure joined the F-35Bs on June 30 after the F-35A has flown with the team Serial Unit Callsign and not reconstituting from the flying from Luke AFB, Arizona via and its appearance at RIAT was the original structures because of the Langley AFB, Virginia – a journey eighth of 16 air displays scheduled 12-5042 USAF/56th ‘Tabor 31’ ‘LF’ FW highly classified nature of the F-35. that took about 12 hours. The jets for the 2016 show season. In “All the buildings have to have were primarily here to fly at RIAT the US, the Heritage Team also 12-5052 USAF/56th ‘Tabor 32’ ‘LF’ FW special security accreditation, and Farnborough – at the former, includes a P-38 Lightning and a which means you know exactly one of them flew alongside an P-51D Mustang but, these veteran 12-5058 USAF/56th ‘Tabor 33’ ‘LF’ FW what’s in [them] from the F-22A Raptor as part of the USAF’s fighters did not make the journey. foundations up. That way we 6 AUGUST 2016 #341 www.airforcesmonthly.com ARTICLE SUMARY Visit www.airforcesdaily.com and subscribe for daily news stories. E-mail the news team at [email protected] can accredit [their] security vertical landing (STOVL) skills. plan covering the Tornado Naval Air Sqn (NAS), will be function and work to the The first UK F-35B unit, 617 Sqn squadron disbandments and established in April 2023 and highest of classification within. ‘The Dambusters’, is expected to which units will fly the new P-8 declare operational capability in “The real challenge is that, while move into Marham during spring/ and Protector UAV squadrons.” December 2023. To ensure the I turn this base into one of the early summer with four jets – with Serviceability issues with Lightning Force stays truly ‘joint’, largest building sites in Norfolk, the unit reaching a full strength of accompanying KC-10 tankers the first ‘Boss’ will be Navy, just as we’ll continue to fly Tornado. nine by the first week of August. meant the F-35Bs were delayed 617 Squadron will be Air Force. It’s playing an absolutely critical The Squadron’s OC (Designate), departing MCAS Beaufort. Asked “The first OC of the OCU will role fighting Daesh [over Iraq Wg Cdr John Butcher, who is also by AFM why the Voyager Force be Air Force, but they will all and Syria]. The big challenge is the current Lightning Force Chief wasn’t used, Smyth said: “We’ve rotate between the services.” to keep it as a functional fighter of Staff, told AFM: “I go out to done [air-to-air refuelling] tests on base as well as a building site.” MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina Voyager but we’re still churning RIAT The airfield will see 90% of its [where UK pilots are trained], in through all the data; once it’s been RIAT was the first public event operating surfaces refurbished August 2017 and the squadron analysed we can have a release at which the UK taxpayers got which will bring the secondary will stand up in January 2018. to service [with the F-35B]. the chance to see the F-35B for runway into use.