F-35 PROGRAM IS ALIVE AND WELL, WITH THE INTERNATIONAL PILOTS ON THEIR WAY TO EGLIN AFB

Well my folks, as noted below, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is alive and well.  I have commented many times before, the impact of this training program being headquarters here at Eglin will have a tremendous impact on our local economy.  In fact, many have not truly understand it yet.  As we receive the international pilots, their families and support staffs to the area this summer, I can assure you there will be many more eyes on this area from around the globe.  There will be delegations from United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Turkey, Canada and Norway visiting and supporting their countrymen in their quest to pilot the most advanced aircraft in the world.  This will not be something we will see for just a year or two, it will be for many years to come.  As we speak, the U.S. is in negotiations with Japan, Israeli, and other U.S. allies in selling them the F-35, who will need their pilots trained. Basically, not only will we benefit from the technology and jobs this program will bring to the area, the tourism will increase, as well, as news reports identifies this area as the home for this program.  So, in closing, all these new visitors will want to enjoy what we have to offer, so let us show them why we are the “Emerald Coast”.

Eglin F-35 program beginning to take off

2 more jets arrived Thursday, another one expected next week

By DUSTY RICKETTS

315-4448 | @DustyRnwfdn  dricketts@nwfdailynews.com  

EGLIN AFB — Of the 25 F-35s that have been released to the Department of Defense, 11 of them have arrived and a 12th is expected early next week. Eglin Air Force Base’s latest F-35s, the fourth and fifth short takeoff-vertical landing Marine variants of the fighter jet, arrived Thursday afternoon. They will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the F-35 Integrated Training Center. A sixth F-35B was at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on Friday, but could come to Eglin as early as Monday. “It’s cleared its (U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency testing). We’re just waiting to make sure it can get down there with the weather,” said Michael Rein, director of communications for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program.        The local Joint Strike Fighters have been busy. Since the first flight March 6, they have flown 35 sorties and have logged 47.1 flight hours as of Friday, Rein said.  “We’re happy with the process so far,” he said. “We’re just really thrilled at how things are going at Eglin, and we only look for brighter and better days ahead.” This year is shaping up to be a big one for the F-35 program at Eglin. The first carrier variant of the fifth generation fighter is expected to be delivered by late summer or early fall, Rein said. Eglin also soon will host some of the program’s international partners. The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Turkey, Canada and Norway have contributed to the development of the F-35 and have been involved with the program since 2002. They have committed to buying a total of about 800 of the jets. The United Kingdom’s first F-35 took its first test flight April 13 and is undergoing a series of company and government checkout flights before its acceptance by the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense. When those tests are completed, the jet will be flown to Eglin, where British pilots and maintenance crews will begin their training.