F-35 Batch 3 Arrival

[RubyRoo]

I realise I am jumping the gun heavily here, as well as the fact we have only just had the second batch arrive, but I have heard that a third batch is expected at the tail end of this year. I would imagine this will bring over the final 3 non-development aircraft to give 617 a full allocation of planes for the squadron.

Has anyone else heard any rough timeframes as to when this may happen?

[Vulcanone]

Well as we only have 6 jets left in the USA, 3 of which are generally acknowledged as staying stateside with 17 Sqn.

Pass next Question

[reaper493]

I read elsewhere that 617 squadron now have their full contingent of 9 a/c.

207 squadron are not due to relocate until summer 2019.

There are currently, as far as I'm aware, 6 F35b remaining in the US, allocated to 17 OEU and 207 OCU working along side VMFAT-501.

So, it looks unlikely to see more jets across the pond this year.

Mike.

[Gary]

They are receiving a new F-35 every 2 to 3 months, there was meant to be plans for a third delivery before Xmas. Not heard any info about them, so not sure if it's still planned

[RubyRoo]

Thank you for the answers both.

Seems strange, yet not surprising, that squadron numbers have dropped from the standard ~12 to 9. I wonder if this will become the new norm.

[ChrisCwmbran]

If as suggested in the relevant section HMS Queen Elizabeth is off to the USA this week for trials with F-35s isn't it possible that she might actually bring back more F-35s when she returns?

[Bolar]

Reading somewhere else it looks not likely as we only have 15 total so far and the six in the US will be required for testing and training.

[rh226]

Probably hasn't been delivered yet, but ZM151 had 1st flight late October 2018 - and I assume that ZM150 has also flown.

[TombsRIP]

I read elsewhere that 617 squadron now have their full contingent of 9 a/c.

207 squadron are not due to relocate until summer 2019.

There are currently, as far as I'm aware, 6 F35b remaining in the US, allocated to 17 OEU and 207 OCU working along side VMFAT-501.

There are 4 sqns planned each with 12 jets plus OCU also with 12 jets.The F-35B Lightning II OCU
will form at Marham on 1st July 2019 using the "numberplate" from disbanded 207(R) at Linton on Tucanos. The first RN FAA Sqn to form will be 809NAS at Marham.

HTH
Cheers

[f-4]

Optimistic as we've only signed up for 48 jets at present.

[Vulcanone]

809 isn't due till 2021(ish) last time I checked... All done in stages like Buying Typhoons I suppose.

[Seahornet1]

809 isn't due till 2021(ish) last time I checked... All done in stages like Buying Typhoons I suppose.

More like buying a De Agostini or similar partwork - you get a bit at a time over an extended period, so you don't notice how horrendously expensive it is...

[Vulcanone]

Nowt wrong with Partworks, well when they were a job creator... Still could be worse!

[two1938]

Sorry Vulcanonee did not understand your last comment abot partworks

[Vulcanone]

I worked for an Aviation publishing company that did the editorial work for most of the Partworks that came out in the 1980s till the mid 1990s. It and thus my job no longer exist.

[two1938]

thanks for the clarity Vulcanone

[RubyRoo]

For the life of me I can't remember where I read this, but supposedly another batch is due in June/July of this year.

[RubyRoo]

For the life of me I can't remember where I read this, but supposedly another batch is due in June/July of this year.

Further to this, the OC of 207 squadron has posted this on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/OC207Sqn/status/1129027330490413056

So another batch is due sometime this Summer. Numbers to be determined. I believe 5 aircraft are currently available in the USA (not including the 3 developmental aircraft that will stay there for good). ZM138, ZM139, ZM149, ZM150 and ZM151. Which of these 5 transit over (maybe all of them), who knows.

It also looks like 617 will still only have 9 aircraft. On that basis, it looks increasingly likely that 9 aircraft is to be the new 'norm' for squadron numbers, unless 3 are "assigned" to 617 and the other 2 form the basis for 207 to stand up.

[ChrisCwmbran]

What makes you think any of this batch must be for 617 squadron?

It sounds to me more like these aircraft will all be for 207 squadron.

[RubyRoo]

What makes you think any of this batch must be for 617 squadron?

It sounds to me more like these aircraft will all be for 207 squadron.

I don't think that. Had you read properly I'm sure you would have gathered that, too.

I would imagine all of the aircraft transiting over will be for 207 as well.