April 23, 2017 Alex D. 

F-35B Lightning II Stealth “Operational Test Trials”

Ok, this is not a Harrier. This is an F-35. It has a higher payload than the harrier and travels faster than its predecessor. This plane defies anything any other country has because of its speed, agility, and ability to take off and land vertically, to include the harrier. Those who say we had these in the 70s and 80s are wrong. This is A LOT different than anything the Marine Corps has ever had.

Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 out of Beaufort, S.C., and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 out of Yuma, Ariz., will perform a variety of missions for Marine Corps test and evaluation officials: day and night flight operations, day and night weapons loading, and maintenance, logistics, and sustainment at sea. Testers will also assess digital interoperability of aircraft and ship systems, F-35B landing signal officer’s launch and recovery software and modifications made to Wasp for JSF operations.

During OT-1, actual Marines — not test overseers — are operating the six F-35Bs that embarked May 18 for the tests; this includes pilots and maintainers. During DT (developmental testing), we got to see firsthand the first vertical landing and short takeoff at sea, but in OT-1, the Marines are demonstrating a cadence to operations to gain confidence the single-engine, stealthy fighters can assimilate into an air wing onboard the amphibious ship, which will include other platforms: the MV-22, CH-53E/K, AH-W/Z and unmanned air systems among them. This is all leading up to the operational debut of the F-35B, slated in July.

“The F-35 Lightning II is the most versatile, agile and technologically advanced aircraft in the skies today, enabling our Corps to be the nation’s force in readiness, regardless of the threat, and regardless of the location of the battle,” Lt. Gen. Jon Davis said to WTRK. “As we modernize our fixed-wing aviation assets for the future, the continued development and fielding of the short takeoff and vertical landing, the F-35B remains the centerpiece of this effort.”

The RAF used the Harrier (sp) jets years ago, this F 35 can dogfight, assist ground support and make heavy bomb loads or carry multiple tomahawk cruise missiles. The Chinese already have copied the old F117 with the stealth features. This jet can be used for multiple missions. it’s expensive but our past cowardly president spent more money giving it to our enemies and entitlement projects that desperately need overhauling. People just can’t live off the federal government doing nothing.

God Bless our military for fighting for safety and freedom. God bless our troops, God bless America, and God bless President Trump!!!