F-35A Lightning II – 5th Generation Multirole Fighter

The 5th generation F-35 Lightning II integrates advanced stealth technology into a highly agile, supersonic aircraft that provides the pilot with unprecedented situational awareness and unmatched lethality and survivability. As new threats emerge, it is more important than ever for U.S. and allied fighter fleets to fly the F-35 stealth fighter, the world’s only 5th generation international aircraft. While each aircraft is uniquely designed to operate from different environments, all three variants set new standards in network-enabled mission systems, sensor fusion and supportability. The F-35 redefines the multirole fighter.

The conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A is a multirole, supersonic, stealth fighter that has extraordinary acceleration, agility and 9-g maneuverability. In the battlespace of the future, knowledge is power, and the F-35’s advanced sensor package will gather and distribute more information than any fighter in history. The F-35 is designed to be a key net-enabling node in a system of systems – an information gatherer and transmitter in a vast network. Its tremendous processing power, open architecture, powerful sensors, information fusion and flexible communications links will make the F-35 an indispensable tool in future homeland defense, joint/coalition irregular warfare and major combat operations.

Deployment to Netherlands

On Monday, May 23, two Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs touched down on Dutch soil for the very first time in History.

The first leg started with a 4 hour flight from Edwards Airforce Base to Naval Air Station Patuxent River. From there, ferrying over the Atlantic ocean was done with  two KDC-10 Tanker support refueling every 2000km towards Leeuwarden Airbase.

The main reason for the Royal Netherlands Air Force to deploy its F-35As to Leeuwarden was to conduct noise comparison flights due to concerns by the public about noise level of the aircraft. Thus, this short deployment allowed residents of the villages surrounding Leeuwarden and Volkel Air Bases to compare the noise produced by an F-35A to that of an F-16AM/BM.

Luchtmachtdagen 2016 Airshow

Deploying the jets to the Netherlands also enabled the RNLAF to jump the gun and be the first to fly the F-35A outside the United States in a public event during the Leeuwarden Airforce Day on June 10 and 11. Well ahead of the initial plans for first public flight at the Royal International Air Tattoo and the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK during early July 2016.

The two F-35As took part in the Air Power Demonstration segment of the airshow. Spectators were able to see them close up taxiing to the end of the runway 06 for an afterburner take off. Following that, they did a vertical climb away from the airbase to prepare for the show. This segment of the show was designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the RNLAF and also the integration between the F-16AM/BM and F-35A in a simulated ground attack mission. Multiple passes were done by the F-35A with some flare deployment and high G turns.

Here we present the two RNLAF F-35As as they performed at Luchtmachtdagen 2016:

F-35A Taxiing for take off

F-35A (F-002) Taxiing for take off

F-35A (F-002)

Waiting for show to start at the end of runway 06

F-35A Afterburner take off

F-35A (F-001) take off

F-35A (F-002)

Afterburners on F-35A (F-002) during take off sequence

2 ship formation of both F-35A

Pulling high G turn with afterburners

Condensation on wings as the F-35A does a high G turn

F-35A dispensing flares during egress

Two ship formation of F-35A approaching show center

Massive condensation as the F-35A punches through smoke

Condensation cones as the F-35A does a high G maneuver in very dense atmospheric conditions

F-35A (F-001) Leads the finale fly pass of 9 F-16AM/BM

Final pass of a historic formation of Spitfire, F-16AM and F-35A

F-35A In action at Luchtmachtdagen 2016 video by Jerry Taha Productions

About MAphotoSG
MAphotoSG (Military Aviation Photography Singapore) was founded by Raymond and David in 2015, and currently consists of a group of passionate volunteer local aircraft spotters that share the common interest of aviation photography. Core activities include the coverage of aviation events and aircraft spotting, both local and overseas.

Some of the key significant events captured by the group include the Exclusive Preview of the RSAF at Singapore Airshow 2016, the first sighting of 142 Squadron’s F-15SGs and the F/A-18Ds of Exercise Commando Sling 16-2. The group was also featured in a pre-Singapore Airshow 2016 article published by the local compact, TODAY.