Cool photos of British F-35Bs arriving in the UK for the first time

F 35B arrives with escort top

The Aviationist via Crown Copyright, H/T UK Defence Journal

On Jun. 29, the first British F-35B Lightning II, piloted by RAF pilot Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols and accompanied by two US Marine Corps airframes and by a pair of US Air Force KC-10 tankers and USMC KC-130Js, landed at RAF Fairford airbase, UK, at the end of the STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) variant’s first transatlantic crossing that marked the first landing of an F-35 in the UK.

An event that was broadcast live by the US Marine Corps on their Facebook page.

F 35B arrives with escort

The Aviationist via Crown Copyright, H/T UK Defence Journal

Using callsign “Tabor 01,” the flight flew to the UK from MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, to attend the Royal International Air Tattoo 2016 and Farnborough International Airshow in the next few weeks.

The first UK appearance of the controversial 5th Gen. stealth aircraft was initially planned to take place in 2014 but it was cancelled shortly before the four USMC F-35Bs started their transatlantic trip after a runway fire incident involving an F-35A at Eglin Air Force Base, on Jun. 23, 2014, caused a temporary fleet-wide grounding.

F 35B arrives with escort 2

The Aviationist via Crown Copyright, H/T UK Defence Journal

Interestingly, the formation was welcomed into the British airspace by three RAF Typhoons.In this post, some cool photographs released by the British MoD of the formation heading to Fairford along with the escort fighters.

F 35B arrives with escort 3

The Aviationist via Crown Copyright, H/T UK Defence Journal

Image credit: Crown Copyright. H/T UK Defence Journal

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