F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)

[SDL]

i believe there may be a couple of US jets as well at some point

[Scimitar54]

All good historical (and up to date) logged evidence of the RAF withholding Fast Jet assets from Carrier Strike. It should make the eventual transfer of the F35Bs to the RN far easier to justify. Not a good start for (RAF) "F35B Operational Squadron" qualification & training from the QEC Aircraft Carriers. If the RAF have not sent at least 6 x pilots to use those aircraft to get "Carrier Qualified" (and to gain familiarisation with a Carrier deployment) then they are missing an invaluable opportunity, with only one more WESTLANT to go before HMS QE's first operational deployment. Potentially very shoddy indeed.

[SKB]

I think its purely down to the UK only owning eighteen of them so far. Six F-35B's represents an entire third (33%) of the UK's current fleet.

[SDL]

When are we set to get anymore?

[downsizer]

All good historical (and up to date) logged evidence of the RAF withholding Fast Jet assets from Carrier Strike. It should make the eventual transfer of the F35Bs to the RN far easier to justify. Not a good start for (RAF) "F35B Operational Squadron" qualification & training from the QEC Aircraft Carriers. If the RAF have not sent at least 6 x pilots to use those aircraft to get "Carrier Qualified" (and to gain familiarisation with a Carrier deployment) then they are missing an invaluable opportunity, with only one more WESTLANT to go before HMS QE's first operational deployment. Potentially very shoddy indeed.

So much bollox in one post.

Do you know how many pilots have been sent? No, of course you don't.
Do you know who decided how many jets to send? No, of course you don't.

[serge750]

After the F35b & HMS QE get back to Britain I think they might train a few more times in UK waters landing & taking of in various conditions ( a lot better chance of bad weather.. ) or even on POW, before the first operational deployment in 2021, is it going to be early or late 2021?

[Scimitar54]

Where did I suggest how many pilots had been sent.
Where did I suggest who had decided how many jets to send.

Thank you for your challenging one word response which of course is b.......s in it’s entirety.

[topman]

Bit of an odd trail out there.

Three seems reasonable, can't run before you can walk.

[Scimitar54]

If “three seems reasonable”, then why would the RAF send six to Cyprus (so that the F35b force can find out what it is like and what is needed to operate the F35b from a forward base) earlier this year?

Looks like a straightforward case of ‘Double Standards”.

[downsizer]

Are you forgetting the ones from 17?

[Scimitar54]

No, I am not forgetting the “Test & Evaluation Aircraft”. However, F35b trials at this years WESTLANT were supposed to be about operational flying & maintenance of “Frontline Squadron Aircraft” on HMS Queen Elizabeth.

[downsizer]

They’ll be used for that as well.

[topman]

If “three seems reasonable”, then why would the RAF send six to Cyprus (so that the F35b force can find out what it is like and what is needed to operate the F35b from a forward base) earlier this year?

Looks like a straightforward case of ‘Double Standards”.

You've still got 6 aircraft going onto the boat. So not really double standards. Plus it's difficult to look at something as simple as aircraft numbers and draw wide ranging conclusions.

May have been limitation put on the fleet.

[SKB]

[Scimitar54]

Well with these excuses, just how well are the less than 2 years between IOC (Land) and IOC (Maritime) being used (or squandered). Only around 50% of that time remains remember.

[SDL]

[topman]

Well with these excuses, just how well are the less than 2 years between IOC (Land) and IOC (Maritime) being used (or squandered). Only around 50% of that time remains remember.

Do you know what constitutes either of those targets?

[bobp]

As well as the six UK aircraft, up to 4 from the USMC will be joining them. It will be nice if we get to see them all on deck at same time, plus of course the deployed Helicopters.

[CameronPerson]

As well as the six UK aircraft, up to 4 from the USMC will be joining them. It will be nice if we get to see them all on deck at same time, plus of course the deployed Helicopters.

Call me boring but I want a hangar pic. I just remember how cramped Ark Royal looked on her farewell voyage and she only had four Harriers at the time..... Be nice to see a hangar with more than six jets in (just) with plenty of space left - if we needed further evidence of how mahoosive she is

[Little J]

https://twitter.com/HMSQNLZ/status/1182283878758780928

that's a really cool looking patch

[serge750]

Lightning strikes this weekend according to twitter apparently, so hopefully the pictures will start rolling v soon ! maybe a couple of days with the 3 from 17sq then increase with the dam busters then the us marines? so excited to see a fuller deck !

[SDL]

They're on the QE...

[SKB]

Two planes ID's are BK-04 ZM138 (17 Squadron) and BK-15 ZM149 (617/207 Squadron),
Seems from photos that BK-04 was first ever British owned F-35B to land on QE and QE class.

EDIT: (14/10/2019)
Another, BK-17 (ZM151) became the third British F-35B to land.

[inch]

Could someone Tel me how many f35b have they said going to be onboard HMS qe for this latest trial ,I know there is going to be USMC embarkment also but how many British f35 total ? Cheers

[SDL]

There were 6 UK aircraft moved for use in WestLant19, but so far only 4 have embarked. it's not known yet when/if the other two will be joining them