New 48th FW F-35 Boss Bird

[hawgwash]

New F-35A 19-5484 marked "48 FW" first flew from Fort Worth yesterday (Jan 4th), it carries a rather odd interpretation of the Statue of Liberty on the tail. At first I thought they'd split paint down the tail....
aIMG_1201 by Matt Ellis, on Flickr
aIMG_1210 by Matt Ellis, on Flickr
aIMG_1252 by Matt Ellis, on Flickr
aIMG_1260 by Matt Ellis, on Flickr
It should be followed by 5485 and 5486 in the next few days/week or so.

[slogen51]

nice

looking forward to seeing it but as you know you cannot get such a nice touchdown shot at Lakenheath from outside the fence

[f106dart]

Even has all 4 squadrons on the intake

[paddyboy]

Well caught, Matt

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[fisherman]

I always like your runway shots. What a great position you have there for photography!

Regards, Mike.

[Vulture 01]

Lovely shots- thank you.

Let's hope the wing get 493 and 495 as well. That'll give them an excuse for two more special sets of markings for squadron CO's.

[hawgwash]

Lovely shots- thank you.

Let's hope the wing get 493 and 495 as well. That'll give them an excuse for two more special sets of markings for squadron CO's.

I believe, in addition to 5484, 5485 and 5486 (second batch), the third batch will be 5492, 5493, 5494, and 5495.

[Supra]

Very nice shots from a advantageous location ?

[Weazel69]

very very good hawgwash - bring it on, even though they are F35's you just gotta live with them

its now the start of a 5th era of types at Lakenheath for me personally, having started with the F100, But you could'nt get the pix then that you can today

[Bilvo]

Lovely shots- thank you.

Let's hope the wing get 493 and 495 as well. That'll give them an excuse for two more special sets of markings for squadron CO's.

And just think if they still had all four squadrons operational as per the F-111F glory days

The Statue of Liberty depicition looks the same as seen on above said Swingers and Eagle boss birds over the years to me, i.e "Statue of Liberty Wing" which the 48th are/were known as unless things have changed!?

Its going to be a real shame once the Eagles are gone, that will be the end of visits to Lakenheath for me as I gave up number crunching years ago and F-35s are of no interest at all (other than moaning about them, which I like to do )

[Alf]

Lovely shots- thank you.

Let's hope the wing get 493 and 495 as well. That'll give them an excuse for two more special sets of markings for squadron CO's.

And just think if they still had all four squadrons operational as per the F-111F glory days

The Statue of Liberty depicition looks the same as seen on above said Swingers and Eagle boss birds over the years to me, i.e "Statue of Liberty Wing" which the 48th are/were known as unless things have changed!?

Its going to be a real shame once the Eagles are gone, that will be the end of visits to Lakenheath for me as I gave up number crunching years ago and F-35s are of no interest at all (other than moaning about them, which I like to do )

They will have all 4 squadrons again once all the F-35s are delivered. The 2 F-15E squadrons are not going anywhere so 2 X F-15 squadrons and 2 x F-35 squadrons for many years to come.

[Nighthawke]

F-35 moaners will still be banned from the area

[KeBul]

Nice Ones 'Hawg'

Good to see confirmation of 4 Squadrons, thanks for taking the time to share and for your heads up on movements over there.

Kev

[capercaillie]

F-35 moaners will still be banned from the area

Allowed out when Eagles are about?

[Nighthawke]

Not without a separate byelaw

[quid21]

The touchdown angle looks so steep, I wonder if the pilots can actually see ahead at that point over the nose?

[Philwinward]

Looks like they ran out of space for Statue of Liberty!!

[gulfdave]

The touchdown angle looks so steep, I wonder if the pilots can actually see ahead at that point over the nose?

Forward visibility (or in any direction for that matter) isn't an issue for the F-35 pilot. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay6g66FbkmQ

[GhostFlight91]

Very very nice

[Pune]

Cracking images, looking forward to seeing them in 'the flesh' as it were when we can get down that way, nice looking aircraft.
Thanks for sharing.
Pune