USAF hopes to complete flying portion of F-35 OUE next week
The US Air Force's first Lockheed Martin F-35A training unit, the 33rd Fighter Wing (FW) at Eglin AFB, Florida, expects to complete the flying portion of the jet's operational utility evaluation (OUE) early next week.
"As of this morning [9 November], we have flown 20 of 24 planned OUE sorties and completed the checkout for our first non-Eglin based pilot," says Col Andrew Toth, the commander of the 33rd FW.
Major Joe Scholtz, one of two operational evaluators who are assessing the training system for the stealthy single-engine jet, is now fully checked out in the F-35A. Scholtz is assigned to the elite 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada. If all goes as planned, the Nevada-based unit will be receiving their first F-35As in the very near future.
In addition to the two evaluators, who are part of the Pentagon's Joint Operational Test Team (JOTT), there are two 33rd Fighter Wing cadre pilots assigned to the OUE class along with two alternates. If there are no problems with the weather or aircraft, the 33rd FW expects to complete the OUE by either Tuesday or Wednesday. Once the flying portion of the OUE is complete, the evaluators can begin writing their assessment of the F-35 system and the training pipeline at Eglin AFB. The resulting report will eventually be forwarded to Gen Edward Rice, commander of the USAF's Air Education and Training Command.
If Rice is satisfied that the F-35 and the 33rd FW is ready to start training operations, he will give his formal assent.
F-35A OUE events completed, success handed to AETC for review
by Chrissy Cuttita
Team Eglin Public Affairs
11/13/2012 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A major step in the building the Air Force's F-35A Lightning II training program was accomplished when the 33rd Fighter Wing completed the training and flying portion of the service's operational utility evaluation on schedule Nov. 15.
Four pilots began training when the evaluation started Sept. 10, expecting it to last approximately 65 days. Six weeks of academic training and 24 sorties later, they are all fully-qualified F-35A pilots.
"We were able to conduct the flying portion in less than half the time than we planned for because things went so well with the flying, weather was good, maintainers were doing a great job getting jets out on the line and instructors were doing a good job of teaching these guys," said Col. Andrew Toth, 33rd Fighter Wing commander.
From no experience to fully qualified joint strike fighter pilot was the hallmark of the success according to wing leaders and instructor pilots.
Lt. Col. Eric Smith, 58th Fighter Squadron director of operations and first Air Force F-35 instructor pilot, recalled leading one of four OUE students, Maj. Joseph Scholtz, during an Instrument qualification course Nov. 9.
"Four weeks before the first pilot qualified, he was an A-10 pilot at Nellis Air Force Base (Nev.) and hadn't been involved much in the F-35 program other than what he read in the news about what was going on," said Smith. "The 33rd Fighter Wing testament to all of the hard work that has been going on here the last three and a half years of standing this place up, getting ready to train pilots, was when we took him out today and he pretty much flew a flawless F-35 mission. It's also a testament to Lockheed Martin partners involved in helping the Nomads, the men and women of 33rd, build a training system down here, develop it and go out and execute it."
During the flying portion, students demonstrated their ability to take off into restricted airspace, train flying in formation while airborne, conduct instrument approaches at a neighboring military base and clear the traffic pattern to land at Eglin. Their "check ride" was an hour-long flight culminating in full qualification to fly the F-35.
"Maintainers have done a fantastic job of generating sorties," Smith said.
The OUE provided the setting to test the 135 trained maintainers in generating up to six flights a day utilizing nine F-35As.
"Maintenance really stepped up to the plate," said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Burch. "They are learning the fifth generation way of maintenance quickly."
As they go along in their daily routine, maintainers find themselves rewriting joint technical data to pave the way for the future "play book" of maintaining F-35As alongside their contract logistics partners.
"Training conducted here at Eglin then enables the rest of the Air Force organizations to start standing up too, begin their training and test and evaluation piece - big steps in the F-35 program," said Toth.
Scholtz will give feedback, as others going through training do, before going back to his unit at Nellis, the 56th Test and Evaluation Squadron where the joint strike fighter will arrive next year.
The other qualified F-35A pilots trained during the OUE were Lt. Col. Brian O'Neill of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Majors Cougar Wilson and Scout Johnston from the 33rd FW.
"A great part of all of this is the fantastic job of all the services. The OUE was a great couple of weeks flying, and we couldn't ask for any more," said Toth. "We are ready for the Joint Operational Test Team to write their report, provide us a quick-look out brief then formally brief our command on what they thought of the training system here. Once we receive the Air Education and Training Command's approval stating we are 'Ready For Training,' we can begin our first class."
Smith and his team of instructors are ready to train six pilots early next year as soon as they get that notice.
"We'll receive the training system for the block 1B operational flight program, the suite of software in the jets," he said. "It'll be our first class in this configuration. We are calling it a small group tryout, a contractual thing to make sure courseware developed is up to standards. It will take two months."
After its first year of training, the wing expects to see "normalcy" in its program.
"Concurrency of testing and training in the Air Force F-35 program means basic training of operational test pilots will happen first at Eglin in the near term," said Toth. "The pilots will then follow-on to Nellis or Edwards to conduct testing on new F-35 systems and capabilities before the wing adapts them in the training environment, resulting in the growth of the program becoming much more normalized. Meanwhile, the game plan for other military services and international partners will continue. Eventually there will be 2,100 maintenance students and 100 U.S. military F-35 pilots a year."
History was written yesterday when the first F-35B Lightning was delivered to a front line squadron. VMFA-121 at Yuma received VK-15. I think this is BF-20 168718, but not 100% confirmed as BF-19 was reported in the reports (which has VM-14 and should be destined for VFMAT-510).
Coati wrote:I think this is BF-20 168718, but not 100% confirmed as BF-19 was reported in the reports (which has VM-14 and should be destined for VFMAT-510).
From sources I understand that BF-19 through 21 are destined for VMFA-121. http://www.yumasun.com/sections/slideshow/?id=16730919 shows that it could perhaps be 168717/VK-15 (BF-19) that arrived first. BF-20 and -21 have both been accepted as well so delivery is imminent. Time will tell.
The Marine Corps welcomed its first operational F-35B aircraft, the Marine Corps variant of the F-35 Lightning II also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. Friday, Nov. 16. The F-35B, one of three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter, is a tactical fixed-wing aircraft that is to be the replacement for aging jets within the Marine Corps. 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing's first F-35 squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, is based at MCAS Yuma and is the first operational F-35 squadron in the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense. Marine F-35B pilot Maj. Aric Liberman delivered the first F-35B, BF-19, to MCAS Yuma at 1:05 p.m. MST. This aircraft will be used to conduct a full spectrum of aviation operations in support of combat missions and maritime readiness worldwide.
One of them was BF-20. It is difficult to see on a picture, but this looks like the one coded VK-16. I guess the last one is BF-21 (which should have code VK-01)
The U.S. Marine Corps has received its first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that, in theory, is meant for actual combat.
But that doesn’t mean the pricey, long-delayed JSF is going to be dropping bombs on enemy targets anytime soon.
The Lockheed Martin-built plane’s computerized logistical system, flight software and special helmet still aren’t ready — and it lacks weapons.
Actually I read it and was a bit surprised by their claims. What do they expect? delivering jets today and having full operational capability tomorrow? AFAIK this is how it normally works with new jets. First let the maintenance personell train with it, then start limited flight ops and slowly building towards IOC and Full OC.
The Typhoon still can not refuel at night, can not strafe and can only limited self-designate LGBs, all waiting for the needed software updates.
And when was this aircraft "operational"?
Bashing the F-35 is so easy by people who do not have clue about these kind of weapon systems.
It does make you wonder why the USMC is pushing the F-35 into semi-operational service already. It seems to me it's more down to politics (to prove the policymakers wrong and not axe the program), then down to logical military sense.
The Typhoon still can not refuel at night, can not strafe and can only limited self-designate LGBs, all waiting for the needed software updates.
And when was this aircraft "operational"?
That is not correct !!
The Typhoon is approved for night air to air refuel !!
(such as Neuburg take its last week)
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