On Debut

F-35 makes international airshow debut at RIAT

The Royal International Air Tattoo provides a yearly window of opportunity to get up close and personal with the very latest cutting edge military firepower. Few events can rival the intensity, drama and spectacle on offer at what is without doubt the world’s greatest military airshow – a spectacle this year highlighted by the international airshow debut of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

No fewer than five F-35s, two STOVL F-35Bs and three conventional F-35As headlined the Air Tattoo, held at Royal Air Force Fairford, Gloucestershire over July 8-10. The three F-35As – from the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke, Arizona and two F-35Bs – from the United States Marine Corps’ VMFAT-501 based at Beaufort, South Carolina – made the trans-Atlantic crossing to participate in RIAT. An F-35B took part in the RIAT flying display, including demonstrating its STOVL capabilities (thanks to the deployment of specially-laid aluminium matting to Fairford). The F-35B was then due to take part in the Farnborough flying display, minus the STOVL demonstration.