Aussie F-35 fleet clocks first 1000th sortie
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RAAF personnel at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, in the United States, marked a significant milestone on Monday this week as Australia’s F-35 Lightning fleet clocked up its 1000th flying sortie.
CAPTION: Wing Commander Darren Clare climbs out of an Australian F-35A after conducting a training mission where his wingman Squadron Leader David Bell flew the 1000th sortie for the Australian F-35A fleet. USAF photo.
![Squadron Leader David Bell, who flew the 1000th sortie in an Australian F-35A, with Wing Commander Darren Clare, Commanding Officer 3 Squadron RAAF. USAF photo.](https://www.contactairlandandsea.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/f35a1000b-300x167.jpg)
Squadron Leader David Bell had the honour of flying the 1000th sortie, in airframe AU 2.
The RAAF F-35A team are working together with the 56th Fighter Wing US Air Force and Lockheed Martin to develop Australia’s initial F-35A capability.
Royal Australian Air Force pilots and maintenance personnel are fully embedded and integrated in USAF squadrons as they prepare to lead Australia’s transition to a fifth-generation Air Force.
Australia currently owns five F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, all based at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where they operate as part of the global training fleet.
See other F-35 stories here.
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