July 30

What happened on July 30 in aviation and space history.

• July 30, 2021

  An Italian Navy F-35B lands aboard the Cavour for the first time

  Milestone — F-35B MM7454, coded BL-4 of the Marina Militare, landed aboard the Cavour for the first time while the ship was sailing in the Gulf of Taranto. Until then only American aircraft had operated from her deck, during the certification trials in March. Italy became the second country in the world, after the United States, to operate the Lightning II from a carrier of its own.

• July 30, 2025

  An F-35C is lost near Naval Air Station Lemoore

  Accident — A U.S. Navy F-35C crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore, in California's Central Valley, at around half past six in the evening local time. The pilot ejected and was taken to hospital for observation. Several outlets dated the event to 31 July because of their publication time, but the base's official release places it on the 30th.