Photo Royal Navy
The Royal Navy has finally activated its own squadron of F35B fighters, which will operate from the aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth II and Prince of Wales. The 809 Naval Air Squadron joins the Royal Air Force's 617 “Dambusters” Squadron as the second frontline stealth fighter formation, operating the F35B Lightning.
This fighter is currently used by the American Marines, the Italian Navy and Air Force, as well as the Royal Air Force (RAF), which already operates it from Royal Navy aircraft carriers.
The stealth fighter, which can fly above the speed of sound but also land and take off vertically, is now in service with the Royal Navy. The Lightning is two generations ahead of the Sea Harrier, which is currently operated by the Royal Navy and served in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
And although it is a naval aviation squadron, the 809's personnel are drawn from both the RAF and the Royal Navy, and its commander rotates between the two services precisely to maintain interoperability around the F35 fighters.
Singapore, South Korea and Japan will be the other countries to fly the B version of American manufacturer Lockheed Martin's F35.
He became fascinated with airplanes in 1999 and graduated from Cal State Long Beach and Western Michigan University with a degree in aviation. #GoBroncos #GoBeach #2A