Final F-35A Lightning II aircrafts delivered to Air Force
NewsDecember 20, 2019
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah. Air Force personnel at Hill Air Force Base (AFB) in Utah has received it final F-35A Lightning II aircraft Dec. 17, bringing the total number at the base to 78.
“This is a great milestone,” says Col. Steven Behmer, 388th Fighter Wing commander. “It marks the end of the beginning for us. Since receiving our first aircraft, our Airmen, alongside the 419th Fighter Wing, have remained focused on expanding the combat capabilities of the F-35A.”
The first operational F-35As arrived at Hill AFB in September 2015, and since then, the active duty 388th and Air Force Reserve 419th FWs have flown more than 17,500 sorties and more than 33,000 flying hours, according to the Air Force. The 388th FW’s three squadrons, the 4th, 34th and 421st Fighter Squadrons, now each have 24 primary assigned aircraft with six backup aircraft. The 419th FW’s 466th FS also supports routine F-35 operations side by side with the active-duty squadrons.
