Earliest Production F-35s (ZM135 - ZM139)

[twamoran]

Sorry if this has been asked already or is general knowledge, so to speak... With two batches of F-35s now delivered to Marham (ZM140 - ZM148), that leaves the five earliest UK jets (ZM135 - ZM139) still in the US.

Presumably these are being utilised by 17 Sqn and will transition to Blighty in due course. I'm wondering if they are essentially "development batch" airframes that will ultimately end up at Warton or GIA at Marham, or whether they'll join the operational fleet? As far as I know BAe doesn't yet have an F-35 for flight testing in the UK?

Thanks for your help!

[rh226]

As far as I am aware, ZM135/136/138 are at Edwards with 17 Sqdn - which is embedded in 461FLTS- doing the testing, evaluation, etc.

ZM137 & ZM139 plus ZM149 onwards are at MCAS Beaufort with VMFAT-501 for pilot training and the build up of the squadrons.

[twamoran]

As far as I am aware, ZM135/136/138 are at Edwards with 17 Sqdn - which is embedded in 461FLTS- doing the testing, evaluation, etc.

ZM137 & ZM139 plus ZM149 onwards are at MCAS Beaufort with VMFAT-501 for pilot training and the build up of the squadrons.

Very helpful indeed, thanks Bob!

[POL]

There's some discussion as to whether we've got aircraft embedded with VMFAT-501 or not now, so to avoid doubt, let's see what the RAF have to say...

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... he_uk_f_35

[TonyO]

The jets at Beaufort are still embedded with VMFAT-501 until 207 reforms.

[twamoran]

There's some discussion as to whether we've got aircraft embedded with VMFAT-501 or not now, so to avoid doubt, let's see what the RAF have to say...

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... he_uk_f_35

The jets at Beaufort are still embedded with VMFAT-501 until 207 reforms.

Thanks guys, very interesting.