First of next F-35B batch ZM156

[Alf]

ZM156 /BK-22. made its first flight at Forth Worth yesterday. This is the first of the batch of 6 due in 2021.

[Starbuck]

Only 3 due this year, seems to have been cut back because of the virus.

[RubyRoo]

That's interesting but not particularly surprising all things considered.

Could be a bumper 2022 then (assuming they're able to bring the schedule back on time) as 8 were due + the now potentially 3 delayed ones.

[tm74sqn]

Perhaps a new squadron - 74 Sqn to be based at Norwich airport aka RAF Horsham St Faith, but with a small detachment at Little Snoring airfield, also in Norfolk. We can all dream!

[Starbuck]

Not sure as to why it's 3 this year, sounds like it's been the plan for quite a while, then 6 a year from 2022 for a couple years at least till there's enough for the first NAS to stand up I would guess.

[RubyRoo]

Not sure as to why it's 3 this year, sounds like it's been the plan for quite a while, then 6 a year from 2022 for a couple years at least till there's enough for the first NAS to stand up I would guess.

The original delivery plan was 6 in 2021 and 8 in 2022.

[Alf]

Not sure as to why it's 3 this year, sounds like it's been the plan for quite a while, then 6 a year from 2022 for a couple years at least till there's enough for the first NAS to stand up I would guess.

The original delivery plan was 6 in 2021 and 8 in 2022.

ZM157/BK-23 made its first flight yesterday. So ZM156 & ZM157 now active at DFW.

[Starbuck]

Not sure as to why it's 3 this year, sounds like it's been the plan for quite a while, then 6 a year from 2022 for a couple years at least till there's enough for the first NAS to stand up I would guess.

The original delivery plan was 6 in 2021 and 8 in 2022.

Yes that's correct but obviously things have changed and now only due 3 this year which is why 809 NAS has been delayed in standing up at Marham.

[RubyRoo]

Not sure as to why it's 3 this year, sounds like it's been the plan for quite a while, then 6 a year from 2022 for a couple years at least till there's enough for the first NAS to stand up I would guess.

The original delivery plan was 6 in 2021 and 8 in 2022.

Yes that's correct but obviously things have changed and now only due 3 this year which is why 809 NAS has been delayed in standing up at Marham.

Thanks, Starbuck. I had imagined that the original delivery plan would be delayed for obvious reasons. Let's hope they can get it back on schedule by end of 2022 (which if they do should see a number of delivery flights!)

[Starbuck]

The original delivery plan was 6 in 2021 and 8 in 2022.

Yes that's correct but obviously things have changed and now only due 3 this year which is why 809 NAS has been delayed in standing up at Marham.

Thanks, Starbuck. I had imagined that the original delivery plan would be delayed for obvious reasons. Let's hope they can get it back on schedule by end of 2022 (which if they do should see a number of delivery flights!)

From latest next year should be better delivery wise, now talking of more then 3 and less than 6 this year now, it would be nice

[Alf]

BK-24. ZM158 first flight was 2/9/21. So if there are only 3 due this year they are all now active at DFW. Guess they will all be delivered together in a month or two.

[Snoop 95]

Do RAF pilots bring them over and which in-flight refuellers have been used in the past?

[Alf]

Do RAF pilots bring them over and which in-flight refuellers have been used in the past?

I think this will be the first delivery direct from the LM factory at FW as all the others had already been delivered and handed over to the Mod at Beaufort. So not sure at which point they become UK responsibility rather than LM?

[Agent K]

Do RAF pilots bring them over and which in-flight refuellers have been used in the past?

In the past they've been flown by RAF Pilots and trailed across by a Voyager, although as the previous poster stated this will be the first FW delivery so may be different.

[Doughnut]

Are original batch of F-35B still flying in the USA. UK Serials has them listed as ZM135 and ZM136 at Eglin, with ZM138 at Patuxant River.
Thought the UK test unit was 17Sqn operating from Edwards ? Are there no RAF aircraft at Beaufort, indeed are UK pilots still trained in the USA ?

[tommc]

I think this will be the first delivery direct from the LM factory at FW as all the others had already been delivered and handed over to the Mod at Beaufort. So not sure at which point they become UK responsibility rather than LM?

No, the previous delivery was from the factory (via intermediate stops).

[tommc]

Are original batch of F-35B still flying in the USA. UK Serials has them listed as ZM135 and ZM136 at Eglin, with ZM138 at Patuxant River.
Thought the UK test unit was 17Sqn operating from Edwards ? Are there no RAF aircraft at Beaufort, indeed are UK pilots still trained in the USA ?

UKSerials lists them delivered to....

They are currently with 17 Sqn at Edwards.

There are no UK F-35s at Beaufort.

UK pilots are now trained at Marham by 207 Sqn.

[Doughnut]

Thankyou Tommc.

[RubyRoo]

ZM159, 160 and 161 are on the production line and were originally due to be delivered this year.

It remains to be seen whether any of those 3 are able to join the 3 that have flown already. Still 3~ months left of 2021 so perhaps 1 might

[np1991]

ZZ331 departed Brize this morning as RRR 9301 heading out over the Atlantic westbound, maybe to collect ZM156 7 and 8?