First RN F-35 Unit to be 809 NAS

摘要

No 809 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) is to be re-formed as the first Royal Navy unit to fly the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, the UK's Ministry of Defence announced on September 9. The historic squadron, whose motto is 'Immortal', will fly from Queen Elizabeth-Class carriers from 2018. The F-35B will be jointly operated by pilots from the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and the Royal Air Force. The 617 'Dambusters' Squadron will be the first RAF Squadron to fly the type. Pilots from both the FAA and RAF are training on the F-35B Lightning II alongside the US Marine Corps at Eglin AFB, Florida, where the first three UK aircraft have already been delivered.