First production F-35 delivered to the U.S. Air Force at Eglin

The first production F-35 assigned to a unit, AF-9 of the 33rd Fighter Wing, arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida at 13:18 Central time. The aircraft was earmarked for the integrated F-35 training centre the base had just stood up, whose first pilot and maintainer courses began that autumn. It was the first delivery of a series aircraft after five years of development flying.