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  • Aussie F-35s rack up 100th sortie

    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

  • An open letter to the Nomads of the 33 FW

    Nomads, as my time here at the 33rd Fighter Wing comes to an end, I’d like to take a moment to thank you and reflect on the accomplishments we’ve achieved in the past two years. These accomplishments were not because of me, but a product of your dedication to the F-35 program through your hard work,

  • Second F-35 squadron stands up

    Lt. Col. Gregory Frana assumed command of the 62nd Fighter Squadron during an assumption of command ceremony June 5 at Luke Air Force Base.Frana previously served as the first F-35A Director of Operations for the 61st FS at Luke.Col. William Bailey, 56th Operations Group commander, presided over the

  • Royal Australian Air Force pilot flies first partner F-35 sortie

    Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, the first F-35 Senior National Representative to Luke, made history on May 15, 2015, by flying the first RAAF F-35A Lightning II sortie at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.While the completion of the sortie represents a milestone for the RAAF,

  • Luke commander brings home flagship F-35

    The 56th Fighter Wing flagship F-35 Lightning II arrived at Luke Air Force Base April 28, it was the base's 22nd F-35. Flying the aircraft from Lockheed Martin's Forth Worth, Texas, plant to Arizona was Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, the 56th FW commander.

  • Luke conducts first F-35 training deployment

    The 56th Fighter Wing performed the first F-35 Lightning II training deployment from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, April 4 through 18, sending aircraft to Nellis AFB, Nevada.

  • 1,000th F-35 training sortie flown at Luke AFB

    The 56th Fighter Wing flew its 1,000th F-35A Lightning II training sortie March 31, making it the fastest F-35 wing to reach the 1,000-sortie milestone in the Defense Department.

  • RAAF pilot paves future with first F-35 flight

    A Royal Australian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, made history here, March 18, after completing his first training flight in the F-35A Lightning II.“It’s quite humbling when stepping into a new jet,” said Jackson. “I just tried to take my time, remember the things I’ve been taught

  • Luke 1 flies first ‘student’ F-35 sortie

    The 56th Fighter Wing officially began training new F-35 pilots today when the first student, Brigadier General Scott Pleus, 56th Fighter Wing commander, flew the wing's first training sortie.Luke has a long and storied history of training fighter pilots. Advanced flight training in the AT-6 began