VFA-147 pilot lieutenant Dave Hinkle prepares for his first flight with the F-35C at NAS Lemoore. Credit: Lockheed Martin Corporation.

The US Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-147 has completed its first flight using an F-35C Lightning II aircraft at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore in California.

The maiden flight supports Strike Fighter Squadron’s transition from the F/A-18E Super Hornet to the F-35C and marks a significant step towards the weapon system’s integration into the US Navy arsenal.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

VFA-147 previously commenced the initial transition in December last year following a six-month deployment on-board the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as part of Carrier Air Wing 11.

"VFA-147 previously commenced the initial transition in December last year following a six-month deployment on-board the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as part of Carrier Air Wing 11."

The transition is set to be completed by the end of the year and will make VFA-147 the first operational squadron in the US Navy to receive and field the F-35C aircraft.

VFA-147 commanding officer commander Patrick Corrigan said: “The day we returned from deployment, we knew we would have to hit the ground running.

“There is no such thing as a slow day for any member of our Argonaut team.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“I applaud all of our sailors and pilots for continuously pushing this programme to where it needs to be for us to succeed and meet our target date later this year.”

The squadron intends to conduct more intensive flying in the near future as they begin their integration into the carrier air wing, a process that will also include preparation for deployment on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in 2021.

The F-35C aircraft features advanced stealth, sensor fusion, unprecedented battlespace awareness and electronic attack capabilities, which are expected to provide warfighters with the capability to carry out assigned missions worldwide.

It is a transformational weapons system that provides the US Navy with significantly enhanced battlespace accessibility and lethality compared to previous models.