Aussie F-35s rack up 100th sortie Published June 22, 2015 By Courtesy of 61st FS 61st Fighter Squadron LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The Royal Australian Air Force hit the century mark at Luke Air Force Base June 3 as their F-35s notched their 100th sortie. The partner nation is the first of 10 countries beyond the U.S. to arrive and train on F-35s at Luke. Australia currently has two of the fifth-generation jets assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron's Top Dogs. The first aircraft arrived in December. The RAAF airmen at Luke said the 100th flight is a sign that they're continuing to forge ahead in the mission, and they look forward to future successes. "It was a great day for us here at Luke to have completed this milestone," said Squadron Leader Nathan Draper, 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit participant maintenance liaison officer. A35-002 flew a code 1 sortie at the hands of Maj. Matt Olson, 62nd FS assistant director of operations out of Luke AFB and in doing so achieved another landmark task for Australian operations.