F-35??

[Skyler Barger]

When in the world is the Navy (and other branches for that matter) going to actually receive the JSF? With the budget cuts and all the difficulties with developing and implementing the new platform I can see that it still is going to take a while. How might it be implemented into the fleet? When might they start selecting pilots to train on it? What has the Navy done in the past when implementing a new aircraft? Do JOs get to select it during flight school or are the more experienced pilots going to get the first shot at it? This might be hard because while it is worthwhile to put the older pilots in the new air frame do you really want to have them spend another year learning another aircraft or would you rather put less experienced pilots in them and mold them? What do you gentleman/ladies think?

 

[RadicalDude]

When in the world is the Navy (and other branches for that matter) going to actually receive the JSF? With the budget cuts and all the difficulties with developing and implementing the new platform I can see that it still is going to take a while. How might it be implemented into the fleet? When might they start selecting pilots to train on it? What has the Navy done in the past when implementing a new aircraft? Do JOs get to select it during flight school or are the more experienced pilots going to get the first shot at it? This might be hard because while it is worthwhile to put the older pilots in the new air frame do you really want to have them spend another year learning another aircraft or would you rather put less experienced pilots in them and mold them? What do you gentleman/ladies think?

Believe it or not, this isn't the first time the navy has introduced a new airframe...

 

[wink]

Do JOs get to select it during flight school or are the more experienced pilots going to get the first shot at it? This might be hard because while it is worthwhile to put the older pilots in the new air frame do you really want to have them spend another year learning another aircraft or would you rather put less experienced pilots in them and mold them? What do you gentleman/ladies think?

Initial cadre flying the F-35 will end up as instructors so they will be fleet experienced guys like all RAG instructors. First operational squadrons will have the standard mix of seniority and experience, so yes, some guys will be newly winged.

 

[Skyler Barger]

Believe it or not, this isn't the first time the navy has introduced a new airframe...

Which is why I wanted to know how it was done.

 

[wlawr005]

Nobody around here has even heard a whisper of JSF selection possibility, so it's gonna be a while before studs get a crack at it.

 

[wink]

Nobody around here has even heard a whisper of JSF selection possibility, so it's gonna be a while before studs get a crack at it.

No wonder. They haven't trained up a RAG cadre yet and IOC isn't until 2019. Don't you guys keep up on the news in the VTs or is it all Call of Duty and NATOPS?

 

[RedFive]

No wonder. They haven't trained up a RAG cadre yet and IOC isn't until 2019. Don't you guys keep up on the news in the VTs or is it all Call of Duty and NATOPS?

Wink, it's not just COD and NATOPS. I'm pretty sure there's beer in there somewhere, too...

 

[wink]

Wink, it's not just COD and NATOPS. I'm pretty sure there's beer in there somewhere, too...

 

[Renegade One]

Which is why I wanted to know how it was done.

Let's hope they do it better than for the first two Tomcat squadrons to stand up…seeded with WAAY too many hand-picked "stellar" VF community guys, and about 8-9 LCDRs apiece…no way to protect that many stars. It was ugly.

 

[wlawr005]

No wonder. They haven't trained up a RAG cadre yet and IOC isn't until 2019. Don't you guys keep up on the news in the VTs or is it all Call of Duty and NATOPS?

Well, you'd figure the rumor mill would start up at least two years ahead of time. Good thing I've got duty this morning...time to get it going

 

[Beans]

Didn't they actually receive it like a week ago? Don't you whippersnappers know how to use google anymore?

 

[Hozer]

http://www.military.com/video/aircraft/jet-fighters/first-f-35c-arrives-at-eglin-afb/2515940634001/

Last week...
Now that's some proper looking CV landing gear too!



Excellent "Grim Reapers" tail art also...

 

[707guy]

Not sure why since Eglin is closer to the East coast than the West coast but the change in tail codes is because VFA-101 falls under Strike Fighter Wings PAC instead of LANT.

 

[jmcquate]

Not sure why since Eglin is closer to the East coast than the West coast but the change in tail codes is because VFA-101 falls under Strike Fighter Wings PAC instead of LANT.

I was wondering about the "N" myself.

 

[Renegade One]

...but the change in tail codes is because VFA-101 falls under Strike Fighter Wings PAC instead of LANT.

Ah…that makes sense then. Thanks.