Marham fleet F-35 Sightings - 2022 > 2024

[Alf]

Credit to Tally on Scramble...

BK-34, ZM168/034 first flight Sep 18, 2023.

Alos credit to Tally on Scramble

BK-35 ZM169 noted at DFW 13th October.

[slogen51]

Anyone here seen ZM143 recently?

Apparently it hasn't returned from the NATO air day at Ostrava?

[Malcolm]

Had a chat with the 17sqn guys at Miramar airshow, where ZM135/001 was on display (again! yes I did moan :-) ). They confirmed 004 and 031 are currently on strength at Edwards. 004 was originally due to do Miramar, but was broken so they took 001 instead.

I asked why not 002, because it's the one I need. They said 002 is no longer on strength at Edwards - they didn't/wouldn't say where it was, but did say it had gone for updates, so my guess is that it's now at Cherry Point. They also didn't know it's fate after the updates are complete - so it may not return to Edwards after updates.

[tommc]

My GUESS is that ZM136 is somewhere like Ogden getting the test kit and orange wiring removed.

[NorvilleRogers]

My GUESS is that ZM136 is somewhere like Ogden getting the test kit and orange wiring removed.

As mentioned above, Cherry Point is most likely for ZM136 as FRCE do the reworks for the UK F-35B fleet.

[PA200]

My GUESS is that ZM136 is somewhere like Ogden getting the test kit and orange wiring removed.

Do they still use the Orange wiring these days? With modern jets having the capability to record pretty much everything, I would have thought it was a thing of the past.

[Starbuck]

My GUESS is that ZM136 is somewhere like Ogden getting the test kit and orange wiring removed.

Do they still use the Orange wiring these days? With modern jets having the capability to record pretty much everything, I would have thought it was a thing of the past.

Yes they do, the jets that fly day to day aren't set up for test recording hence orange wired jets still being a thing.

[Starbuck]

Had a chat with the 17sqn guys at Miramar airshow, where ZM135/001 was on display (again! yes I did moan :-) ). They confirmed 004 and 031 are currently on strength at Edwards. 004 was originally due to do Miramar, but was broken so they took 001 instead.

I asked why not 002, because it's the one I need. They said 002 is no longer on strength at Edwards - they didn't/wouldn't say where it was, but did say it had gone for updates, so my guess is that it's now at Cherry Point. They also didn't know it's fate after the updates are complete - so it may not return to Edwards after updates.

Eventually all three 17 SQN jets will be swapped with new frames from the factory one by one, the old ones dewired and upgraded to Block 4 (I think that's the term) then will join the fleet at Marham.

[Malcolm]

Eventually all three 17 SQN jets will be swapped with new frames from the factory one by one, the old ones dewired and upgraded to Block 4 (I think that's the term) then will join the fleet at Marham.

That was my understanding too, but the CO of 17 Sqn was at Miramar, and he seemed less sure this year than he was last year that this would actually happen.

[PA200]

My GUESS is that ZM136 is somewhere like Ogden getting the test kit and orange wiring removed.

Do they still use the Orange wiring these days? With modern jets having the capability to record pretty much everything, I would have thought it was a thing of the past.

Yes they do, the jets that fly day to day aren't set up for test recording hence orange wired jets still being a thing.

Thanks for the reply, I was curious as I've seen the orange wiring on a Tornado we had at TTTE which was ex Warton and they never removed the wiring just returned it to service.

[Mikepaparomeo]

(ZM139)/005
(ZM149)/015
(ZM142)/008
(ZM158)/024
noted under the shelters 19-Oct lunchtime

[mjfreeflyxc]

ZM143/009 3 Passes in The Mach Loop, LFA7
23rd October 2023

[Evergreen 44]

Noted today :
ZM157/023 Ghost 11 Flight t/o 10:00
ZM161/027 Ghost 12 t/o 10:00
ZM139/005 Bolt 11 Flight t/o 11:50
ZM144/010 Bolt 12
ZM149/015 Bolt 13
ZM156/022 Bolt 14

Bolt Flight did initial approach then trail approach and break to land on the pads

Shelters :
ZM145/011
ZM164/030
ZM159/025
ZM154/020

Plus two or three more unidentified

[mjfreeflyxc]

Seajet Flight
ZM144/010
ZM149/015

One and a half times round the Mach Loop, LFA7
Exited Bwlch - Bala
24/11/23

[RubyRoo]

ZM169 has now flown.

ZM170 and ZM171 are due this year but unlikely until 2024 due to ongoing delivery problems.

[Alf]

ZM169 has now flown.

ZM170 and ZM171 are due this year but unlikely until 2024 due to ongoing delivery problems.

ZM168 has also been seen at Fort Worth, so 168/169/170/171 probably the next batch when they restart deliveries next year.

[RubyRoo]

ZM168 and ZM169 may also be replacing ZM135 and ZM136 at Edwards. We know ZM136 has gone to have it's orange wiring removed at least.

Will just have to wait and see when the next batch arrives, whenever that may be

[markranger]

When does the next Sqn form?

[slogen51]

According to the Royal Web site 809 NAS has been "resurrected "

Probably not the same as 'stood up' ?

You do occasionally hear Seajet callsigns but no idea if they are 809 Naval Air Squadron pilots?

[Starbuck]

According to the Royal Web site 809 NAS has been "resurrected "

Probably not the same as 'stood up' ?

You do occasionally hear Seajet callsigns but no idea if they are 809 Naval Air Squadron pilots?

Seajet always used to be associated with jets heading to or from the carriers.

809 hasn't officially stood up yet, due to this year.