Lockheed F-35A Lightning 11 – 34th FS, 388th FW, USAF, Lakenheath 2017

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA4413: Lockheed F-35A Lightning 11 serial 14-5097 of the 34th FS “Rude Rams”, 388th FW, Lakenheath 2017. Production run of 750 models.

Length 8.5 inches Wingspan 5.75 inches

On April 15, 2017 6 Lockheed F-35As from the 344th FS/388th FW based at Hill AFB, Utah landed at RAF Lakenheath. This was the first operational deployment for USAF F-35As and crossing the Atlantic was made possible by air-refueling provided by Air Mobility Command and the USAF 100th Air Refueling Wing from RAF Mildenhall, who combined off-loaded 400,000 pounds of fuel. F-35A 14-5097 was one of the 6 aircraft and used call-sign “Atlas 23”. These F-35As remained in Europe for several weeks to conduct air training with other units.

The Lockheed F-35 is an advanced stealth fifth generation fighter combining speed and superb agility. There are three variants; F-35A, B and C. The F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take Off and external weapons stations. The F-35B STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) variant while the F-35C is a CV (Carrier Variant). The F-35 will replace the USAF A-10 and F-16, the F/A-18 for the USN and the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the USMC.