F-35A Depot Gets First Aircraft

The first F-35A strike fighter destined for depot maintenance arrived at the Ogden Air Logistics Complex on the grounds of Hill AFB, Utah. This airframe touched down at Hill on Sept 20, according to a base release. Assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev., it is in a prototype configuration, states the release. It will now undergo a series of structural and systems modifications at Ogden before it returns to the fleet to support Block 2B operational test and evaluation testing in 2015, states prime contractor Lockheed Martin’s release. “For decades, the shared partnership between Lockheed Martin and the Ogden ALC team has taken our legacy platforms, the F-16, C-130, and F-22, to the next level, and the same will hold true for the F-35,” said Lorraine Martin, F-35 vice president and general manager. (Hill report by George F. Jozens)