Defence

RAF officers visit Fightertown F-35 facilities

Posted 23 June 2015

Officers from Britain's F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme toured facilities at Fightertown as guests of the US Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, as part of efforts to increase cooperation and further the UK's own F-35 programme.

Above: Air Commodore Harvey Smyth (left), shakes hands with Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols during a tour of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, June 16. There are currently 14 UK pilots and maintainers with VMFAT-501 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Smyth is the lightning force commander, responsible for the F-35 program in the Royal Air Force. Nichols is the UK senior national representative for Royal Air Force pilots assigned to VMFAT-501, Marine Aircraft Group 31.
Courtesy US Marine Corps

The UK has been integrated into Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 since February 2015, when the Royal Air Force flew three Joint Strike Fighters to Fightertown.

Currently, there are 14 UK service members at VMFAT-501. Six distinguished guests visited MCAS Beaufort which included Air Commodore Harvey Smyth, the lightning force commander for the UK F-35 programme, Group Capt. Paul Godfrey, the current group captain lightning and Group Capt. Ian Townsend, the incoming group captain lightning for the UK F-35 programme.

Smyth, as the Lightning Force Commander, is responsible for the entire F-35 programme in the Royal Air Force. Godfrey is the current Group Captain Lightning, a position that is responsible for UK F-35 operations aboard MCAS Beaufort. His replacement, Group Capt. Ian Townsend is touring MCAS Beaufort for the first time to familiarise himself with the programme.

“The benefit of this tour is being able to sit down with senior leadership here and see what they think about the integration of British pilots and maintainers into VMFAT-501,” said Godfrey.

The visit included a tour of the Pilot Training Centre aboard the Air Station. Fightertown’s PTC is the largest F-35 training centre in the world where pilots from around the world enhance their skills. A similar facility is being built here in the UK.

The British officers also toured VMFAT-501 and saw the integrated programme up-close.“Without the Marines, the F-35 programme would not be where it is today,” said Godfrey.