First F-35 arrives at Eglin

A 33rd Fighter wing aircraft maintainer watches an F-35 Lightning II approaches July 14, 2011, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Tail number 08-0747 is the Department of Defense's first operational F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Milcom Editor Note: The first production model F-35 Lightning II to be assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing, the Lightning II training unit, arrived at Eglin AFB, Florida, on 14 July 2011 after a ninety-minute ferry flight from Fort Worth, Texas. The aircraft, Air Force serial number 08-0747 (c/n AF-09), will be used for training F-35 pilots and maintainers who begin coursework at the base’s new F-35 Integrated Training Center this fall. The aircraft was flown to Florida by Lt. Col. Eric Smith of the 58th Fighter Squadron, the first Air Force qualified F-35 line pilot. No ICAO24 code uncovered yet.

by Samuel King Jr., Eglin Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- The Department of Defense's first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter touched down at its new home here July 14, marking a major milestone in the nation's military history.

Upon arrival, the jet officially became part of the Air Force inventory. It now belongs to the JSF training unit, the 33rd Fighter Wing.

Flying it in was Lt. Col. Eric Smith of the 58th Fighter Squadron, the first Air Force qualified F-35 pilot.

"It was a smooth ride in," said the colonel of the hour and 40 minute flight. "The jet behaved awesomely. I'm just so proud to bring it home to Eglin (Air Force Base)."

A crowd of 33rd FW people braved the 90 degree heat to watch the fifth-generation fighter touchdown and taxi in. Col. Andrew Toth, the 33rd FW commander, was the first to greet his pilot upon arrival.

"It's an exciting day here at the wing where our joint and integrated team has been preparing for this day since October 2009," Toth said. "I have no doubt the caliber of the Airmen, Sailors, Marines and contractors will provide safe and effective training operations at Eglin (AFB). Now, we look forward to the start of classes later this year."

Now that the aircraft is on station, F-35 maintainers will train and be certified here at home.

"It's pretty exciting," said Tech. Sgt. Brian West, the crew chief for the new aircraft. "We're thrilled to be able to train with one of our own."

As the world's first multi-role stealth fighter, the F-35 is known for its superior range, cutting-edge avionics and next-generation sensor fusion. Each model shares breakthroughs in combat performance, survivability and support, while each is specifically tailored for unique service needs.

Lt. Col. J.D. Wilbourne, the 58th FS commander, said he was thrilled to see his first aircraft arrive, one day before his change of command.

"This is the best week ever," said the commander, who flew chase in an F-16 Fighting Falcon. "This aircraft ensures air dominance for the next 30 years, and today marks the first step toward that goal."

General sees opportunity, innovation at F-35 training wing

by Ashley M. Wright, 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- The commander of Air Education and Training Command visited the 33rd Fighter Wing April 26 here.

General Stephen R. Lorenz visited Eglin Air Force Base to observe how the wing staff is taking "the opportunity to shape the future," by training pilots and maintainers on the F-35 Lightning II.

"(The wing's mission connects to) not just a larger Air Force mission, but a larger (Department of Defense) mission, because they have the opportunity to shape the future on how we fly, maintain and integrate the F-35 across all the services including international (partners) that will be coming here," General Lorenz said.

More than 2,100 F-35 pilots and maintainers are projected to annually train on the fifth generation aircraft when the wing reaches full capacity in 2014.

Officials from the Air Force, Marines, Navy and international partner nations are set to send their students to Eglin AFB for instruction on the F-35.

"General Lorenz's positive feedback and motivation couldn't have been timelier," said Col. David Hlatky, the 33rd Fighter Wing commander. "Our folks are feeling the drain of driving integration and best practices for F-35 training. At the same time they are bedding down new equipment and learning complex new systems. When the four-star validated their innovative concepts, thanked them for the effort and then asked how he can help, everyone got a lift."

Included in the general's visit was a 33rd FW "all hands" call where he addressed more than 200 Airmen, Marines, Sailors, contract partners and one Soldier.

"It was a lot of insight on how he sees things," said Marine Cpl. Lewis McCormick, from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. "He talked about how it was important for us being the first boots on the ground and setting the tone for future joint operations. It made me a little more proud to be a part of this organization."

Like all new ventures, challenges are bound to arise, the general said.

"There are lots of challenges whenever you bring new weapons systems on board," he said. "There are challenges on the integration of the services and the international (partners), how we are going to share the ranges around here, how we are going to share the runways."

"A lot of great leaders from the all the services are working these issues on a day-to-day basis and are doing a great job," General Lorenz said. "As a team, I expect them to build a foundation for others in the future to move the ball down the field. They are going to have an opportunity to shape the future. That opportunity is only given to a few people, especially in such a large defense program like the (joint strike fighter), which is the largest defense program in the DOD at this time."

To keep pace with the expanding realm of technology, AETC officials recently added a fourth core competency; innovation, the general said.

As 33rd FW members prepare to continue their air power dominance for the next half century by training aviators and maintainers on the joint strike fighter, the general forecasted innovation on a multitude of levels.

"This is a perfect example with the leveling off top lines of the DOD budget: where they have to think faster, better and cheaper in order to accomplish the same mission in the 21st century," General Lorenz said. "Building and bringing the F-35 to Eglin (AFB) and the 33rd FW is on the cutting edge of all these issues, and they are on the forefront of innovation."

The 33rd Fighter Wing staff ceased operations of the F-15 Eagle in September 2009 and became the DOD's first F-35 training wing Oct. 1, 2009. The F-35 establishment at Eglin AFB stems from a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure directive.

It's official: 33rd Fighter Wing is the F-35 training unit

And here is a story from the NewsHerald.com website in Panama City:

EGLIN AFB — The 33rd officially shed its “fighter” wing status Thursday morning as it transitioned to the first F-35 training unit. The former operational F-15 Air Combat Command unit is now a training unit under the Air Education and Training Command’s 19th Air Force.

The wing will continue the legacy of the 33rd, maintaining the “fighter wing” moniker and the “Nomad” name.

Get the rest of the copyrighted story online at
http://www.newsherald.com/news/photo-77962-fighter-33rd.html

33rd Fighter Wing says goodbye to last F-15

From the Air Forces Times

The F-15 Eagle era is over for the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

On Sept. 8, the last three of the wing’s F-15s left for the boneyard in Arizona.

In October, the wing formally ends its association with Air Combat Command and stands up as Air Education and Training Command’s schoolhouse for F-35 Lightning II pilots and crew chiefs.

"It's bittersweet knowing that once I'm airborne, it's the end of the Eagle's 30-year association with the 33rd Fighter Wing, and the ramp will sit empty until the F-35s arrive next year," Col. Todd Harmer, commander of the 33rd, said in an Air Force statement.

At one time, the 33rd was home to a trio of F-15 squadrons and more than 70 fighters. Several four-star commanders flew F-15s at the wing, including ACC commander Gen. John Corley, Air Force Vice Commander Gen. Howie Chandler and retired generals T. Michael Moseley, John Jumper, Gregory “Speedy” Martin and William Looney.

During Desert Storm, the wing’s F-15s were credited with shooting down 16 Iraqi jets.