May 22

What happened on May 22 in aviation and space history.

• May 22, 2018

  Israel reveals the F-35's first use in combat

  Milestone — The head of the Israeli Air Force, Major General Amikam Norkin, told a conference of foreign air chiefs that the F-35I "Adir" had already struck twice "on two different fronts", the Lightning II's first combat use by any operator in the world. Norkin showed an image of the fighter over Beirut that was not cleared for publication, and specified that the F-35 had not taken part in the 10 May strikes against Iranian targets in Syria. Israel has never declassified the dates of those two attacks.

• May 22, 2026

  Poland's first F-35A "Husarz" arrive at Łask

  Milestone — The first Polish Air Force F-35As, named "Husarz" after the Commonwealth's winged cavalry, landed at Łask air base in the centre of the country. Poland had signed the Harpia programme contract in 2020 for thirty-two aircraft, the first fifth-generation fighter purchase by a former Warsaw Pact member. Until then Polish pilots had trained at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas.