19 Dec 2016

F-35 maintenance battle tested

Checkered Flag facilitates integration between fifth and fourth-generation aircraft communities. These exercises are critical to hone the tactics techniques and procedures (TTP’s) for the aircraft’s inevitable deployment fighting alongside other combat assets. While the exercise is prime opportunity to learn about how we fly the aircraft, it presents the same learning opportunities for preventative and restorative maintenance.

8 Dec 2016

Luke creates first F-35 undergraduate pilot curriculum

The first class of undergraduate pilots began training through the newly written F-35 Lightning II curriculum Dec. 5 in the F-35 Academic Training Center at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

19 Sep 2016

State of the AF: Active-duty force on the rise, space will be more prominent

Nearly three years into her tenure as the Air Force’s top leader, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James reaffirmed that people continue to be her top priority during her State of the Air Force address at the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference Sept. 19, in National Harbor, Maryland.

1 Sep 2016

F-35A completes largest deployment to date

The 33rd Fighter Wing wrapped up the largest F-35 deployment to date at this year’s Exercise Northern Lightning Aug. 31 at Volk Field, Wis.

4 Aug 2016

33rd FW completes record number of sorties with F-35A

Members of the 33rd Fighter Wing set a new record of 111 sorties over three days during a sortie surge Aug. 1-3 here.The purpose of a sortie surge is to test the readiness of maintainers, pilots and aircraft to meet the needs of high-tempo operations.“Thanks to the Nomads for their tremendous work this week,” Col. Lance Pilch, 33rd FW commander