F-35 Lightning II developments

[tally]

First Flight Aug 31, 2018: AF-161, 15-5186/HL.

[Bjorn]

RoKAF #18-004 first flight on September 17th, 2018.

Greets,

[Starfighter_F-104G]

RNAF - Wider budget purchase F-35

18-09-2018

Instead of 37 F-35s, the air force wants 67 to be able to perform all tasks.

The Hague - Defense is sorting for a larger fleet of the JSF fighter, now more often called F-35. To this end, Minister Ank Bijleveld and State Secretary Barbara Visser have done an invisible, but far-reaching intervention. They removed the 'fence' that kept the purchase budget at a maximum of € 4.5 billion.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

Japan AX-10 89-8710 f/f 19-09-2018

[Starfighter_F-104G]

21-09-2018 3xF-35As planned delivery flight to Oarland

AM014 / 015 / 016

[The DJ]

15-5189/LF "308FS" noted on 20/9. Looks like 308FS is being reactivated soon.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

15-5189/LF "308FS" noted on 20/9. Looks like 308FS is being reactivated soon.

f/f 19-09-2018

[Starfighter_F-104G]

F-35A AS013 919 f/f 25-09-2018

[tally]

F-35A AS013 919 f/f 25-09-2018

That was not its first flight. It was a company acceptance flight so already had several flights under its belt. Callsign was Strike 31. First flights and company flights are always Lightning callsigns.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

28-09-2018
Marine F-35B fighter aircraft has crashed in Beaufort County, SC by MCAS Beaufort.
Pilot is believed to have ejected, no update on pilot's status.

[dinger]

Noted arriving on delivery at Luke AFB on 10/10/18, F-35A 15-5182 LF call sign STRIKE 21.

Dinger

[Le Addeur noir]

Entire F-35 US fleet grounded,

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45827795

Also applies to other countries. The RAF fleet has been 'operationally paused'.

[tally]

Entire F-35 US fleet grounded,

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45827795

Also applies to other countries. The RAF fleet has been 'operationally paused'.

The checks are easy to complete apparently as for the Alliance Airshow two F-35A's from Luke showed up beating up the pattern before landing.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

FACO Cameri
BL02 first flight 15.10.2018
AL11 first flight 16.10.2018

[Starfighter_F-104G]

The Netherlands buys the remaining 3 F-35s
News item 17-10-2018 | 16:46

The Netherlands buys the remaining 3 F-35 fighter aircraft. With this, the Netherlands confirms the purchase of at least 37 aircraft. That is what Secretary of State Barbara Visser announced today in a letter to the House of Representatives. The full operational deployment of the Dutch F-35 fleet is scheduled for 2024. In order to guarantee this, the order must be confirmed at the latest this month.

Delays in the so-called full operational capability have operational and financial consequences. The Netherlands will have to fly longer with the F-16

Overview of orders and deliveries since 2013

Ordered and delivered
2 test devices delivered in 2013 (lot 3 and 4) *

Ordered
8 aircraft to be delivered in 2019 (lot 11) *

Ordered
24 aircraft to be delivered in 2020-2022 (lot 12-14) *

To order October 2018
3 aircraft to be delivered in 2023 (lot 15) *


* the different lot numbers represent the successive production series.

Due to the lower unit price for lot 11, the new plan exchange rates and the risk reserve of € 120.8 million, the purchase of the F-35s is now financially feasible.