F-35 Lightning II developments

[tally]

First Flights Mar 5, 2019
AF-188 17-5246/WA, 57 Wg, 6 WPS. RTB early due to weapons bay door issue.
AF-189 17-5247/HL, 388 FW, 421 FS. RTB early due to landing gear issue.


Delivery to 57 Wg, 422 TES at Edwards AFB Mar 5, 2019
AF-182 17-5240/OT
AF-184 17-5242/OT
Not sure if the 57th (or 422nd) is at Edwards but that is the SQN insignia on the port side intake.

[tally]

First Flights Mar 6, 2019
AM-19 5290.


Delivery to 56 FW at Luke AFB Mar 6, 2019
AN-06 F-006.
AU-12 A35-012.

[Coati]

Thanks Tally! Great info!

A bit of a hint that Poland might soon join the F-35 community, is news that the purchase of 32 '5th Generation Fighters' is a priority.

https://www.rt.com/news/452769-polish-m ... s-f35-buy/

The US DoD is reportedly planning 6 fewer aircraft for next FY (78 iso 84). Press links this to the (debated) plan to purchase 8 F-15X, however, it is rumored the 6 will be cut from the USN/USMC order for B and C models. Next week hopefully more clarity.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

FACO Cameri

AL-11 & BL-02 not delivered due to nonpayment;
500 million $ to date have not been paid.

[orange]

A35-014 towed to the sheds at Fort Worth today.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

Italy news

Rome, March 12 - 2019
Italian Air Force Chief of Staff General Alberto Rosso told parliament on Tuesday that Italy has not paid "380 million $ in invoices issued in 2018" by Lockheed Martin for F35 fighter jets.
Reporting to a joint session of the Lower House and Senate defence committees, Rosso expressed "major concern about uncertainty over the programme" and the "hypothesis of a quantitative reduction" in the number of aircraft Italy will buy.
The general said the alternative would be "older and more expensive" aircraft. The Air Force chief said that "this aircraft is the future.
"Any slowdown or fall in the number would be worrying not just for us, but also for the nation's industry, given the economic impact of the programme".

[orange]

Test flying in the afternoon of 13 March:
A35-013 2 OCU markings
17-5246/WA
18-0003 THK

[Starfighter_F-104G]

07-03-2019
461th FLTS received on loan from 422TES nr 2 F-35A at Edwards AFB
AF-182 17-5240/OT
AF-184 17-5242/OT

[tally]

BF-71 (169607) First Flights Mar 21, 2019.

[Bjorn]

I presume you mean BF-71, because BF-70 is 169595 and is already flying for some time now.

Greets,

[Coati]

According to the F-16.net database, the BF-71 has buno 169607.

http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F ... file/9251/

[tally]

I presume you mean BF-71, because BF-70 is 169595 and is already flying for some time now.

Greets,

According to the F-16.net database, the BF-71 has buno 169607.

http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F ... file/9251/

Correct. Updated earlier post.

[Bjorn]

169608 is also flying already.

Greets,

[Starfighter_F-104G]

AF-193 17-5251 HL for 421FS f/f 25.03.2019

[Starfighter_F-104G]

Air Force releases 2018 Acquisition Report

https://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/ ... Report.pdf

F-35A
FY20 48
FY21 54
FY22 54
FY23 54