F-35 arrives at Luke

By Bette Sharpe - Glendale Daily Planet

AUDIO OF THE  SPEECHES  FROM THE PROGRAM  AT END OF PAGE
(still need a  few names  for captions)

The long wait is over. After some worry, the F-35A is delivered to Luke Air Force Base. The first of 144 F-35A arrived at Luke AFB this month. To celebrate and to the occasion Luke AFB hosted an unveiling ceremony for the base’s first F-35 Lightning II on March 14, 2014 at Luke Air Force Base. The event was hosted by Eric Fanning, The Undersecretary of the Air force, and General Robin Rand, Commander of Air Education and Training Command. Guest speakers included Brigadier General Michael Rothstein, 56th Fighter Wing Commander; General Robin Rand, Commander, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph; Ms. Lorraine Martin, Vice President and General Manager, F-35 Program, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics; The Honorable Eric Fanning, Undersecretary of the Air Force; The Honorable Trent Franks, U.S. Representative Arizona 8th District; and The Honorable Jan Brewer, Governor of the State of Arizona. The F-35 will be available for the public viewing during Luke Days, Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16. Large crowds are expected for the two day event. The arrival of the first F-35 fighters to the base adds a major attraction to the event.

"The unveiling of our first F-35 is a special day for Luke and the community that has been so supportive of us", said Brig. Gen Mike Rothstein, 56th Fighter Wing commander. "The basing of F-35 aircraft at Luke ensures the long-term viability of our mission of training the world’s greatest fighter pilots, which we’ve been doing here for seven decades."

The F-35 is manufactured by Lockheed Martin and is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft intended to be the Air force’s premier strike aircraft through the first half of the 21st Century. It is a multirole fighter that is expected to eventually phase out the aging F-16s and A-10s.

On April 1, 1994, the 56th Fighter Wing (FW) was reassigned to Luke AFT, Arizona. For the last two decades, the 56t Fighter Wing has been the sole F-16 active duty training base, tasked with producing over half of the Air Force’s fighter pilots.

Today ushers in a new chapter in the history of the56th Fighter Winger Thunderbolts. The 56th FW will be the primary F-35 active duty training base for the U.S. Air force and our partner nations – training the world’s greatest fighter pilots and ensuring the security of our nation and defending liberty across the globe for decades to come.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5382.

The Phoenix Boys Choir posed for a group photograph just after a dress rehearsal and right before the actual program of the official F-35 unveiling ceremony at Luke Air Force Base on Friday, March 14, 2014.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5453.

The F-35A is a multirole fighter and is intended to be the Air Force’s premier strike aircraft through the first half of the 21st Century. Colorful blue lights are for show.

Single seat

Top speed 1,199 MPH

Designer Lockheed Martin

Engine Type Pratt & Whitney

Wingspan 35 feet

Length 51 feet

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least ten other countries.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5400 and 5399.

Pretty and colorful for the official unveiling ceremony, but the reality is, this is a war bird.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5420. USE YOU FRAME PULL

Fifty-six people participated in the flag presentation and showing the teamwork and cooperation it took, and takes, to achieve this major event for Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Arizona and the nation. Among two of the most noticeable for Glendale residents are current Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers and Elaine Scruggs who was Mayor of Glendale for almost two decades and who is one of the most ardent supporters of Luke Air Force Base.

Ed Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. Frame 2

The Sergeant and Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers  pause for a moment as the flag is passed....

Last December Lockheed Martin employees who helped to complete the F-35 passed an American Flag from one person to another down the line to Brig. Gen. Michael Rothstein, Luke Commander. The occasion marked the completion of the 100th F-35, which was scheduled for Luke Air Force Base.

Then on Friday, March 14th, Brig. Gen Michael Rothstein asked 56 men and women who represented the many components of the 56th Fight Wing and the West Valley (home to the F-35) to pass an American flag from one person to another, as was done before in Fort Worth, Texas. The flag’s journey down the line illustrated the flag’s journey continued from the Lockheed Martin factory in Fort Worth and ended at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona. The last person to be handed the flag, was the Lt. Col. Michael Ebner, Commander of the new F-35 Unit, the 61st Fighter Squadron.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5404.

 The current Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers and Elaine Scruggs who was Mayor of Glendale for almost two decades and who is one of the most ardent supporters of Luke Air Force Base. Although there were many people that played a part in keeping Luke viable, un-encroached, and prime  for the  arrival of the F-35, Ex Mayor Scruggs deserves recognition  for  her work in  these areas.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5396 and 5389.

Beneath the banner, "Beware the THUNDERBOLT!" The Honorable Clint Hickman, Maricopa County Supervisor and Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers. Both men participated in the 56 person passing of the American flag.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5523.

This is a Douglas C-47/ DC-3 Skytrain. The Commemorative Air Force flew it in for the show at Luke.

The world famous thunderbirds performed and amazed the crowd of dignitaries at Luke Air Force Base on March 14 during the official welcome ceremony for the F-35A. (See the Thunderbirds overhead!)

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5475.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5475.

Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 (N610AT) was once hailed as the future of light attack and was the only fixed wing aircraft to fire laser guided rockets.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5478.

This is a Douglas C-47/ DC-3 Skytrain. The Commemorative Air Force flew it in for the show at Luke. Friday many that attended the F-35 rollout got a preview of things that  appeared at the 2 day event over the weeked.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5465.

A B-17 Flying Fortress captures the attention of these two men on Friday, March 14, 2014 at the F-35 Lightning II Unveiling Ceremony at Luke Air Force Base in west Glendale.

"The Rock", AETC (Air Education and Training Command) 314th Air Wing; a 130J is a Lockheed Martin Super Hercules cargo craft.

5482.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 5612.

A heart in the clear blue sky courtesy  of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.