iscover
Two US Air Force pilots have successfully flown Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft during an international interfly training mission at Exercise Talisman Sabre 25.
The display of interoperability in the Northern Territory signified the first time USAF pilots had flown fifth-generation aircraft belonging to a partnered or allied nation.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The US Air Force pilots achieving this first-ever feat were Air Force Reserve Maj. Justin Lennon, 48th Fighter Wing, US Air Forces in Europe-US Air Forces Africa F-35A evaluator pilot, and Maj. Colby Kluesner, 388th Fighter Wing F-35A evaluator pilot.
“In the short term, interfly events like this allow us to exchange information and best practices,” Lennon said.
“In the long term, as a coalition, normalising Interfly gives commanders additional options for agility and versatility in a future conflict.
“In a prolonged conflict, airplanes are capable of flying more hours a day than a pilot. Having the added flexibility to put any pilot in any F-35 and generate combat airpower anywhere in the world adds to the F-35 coalition’s lethality.”
“(The Lightning-X program) allows RAAF commanders to treat our coalition counterparts as RAAF aircrew when we consider things like medical, dental, physiological issues, egress systems and human factors,” according to RAAF Squadron Leader Nicholas Reynolds, No. 77 Squadron executive officer.
“It is a big win to be able to seamlessly integrate here at Talisman Sabre 25 with 77 Squadron.”
In addition to the two USAF pilots, the RAAF also invited Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Daniel Goff, and US Marine Corps Lt. Col. Johnny Rose, both F-35B instructor pilots, to participate in the international Interfly.
The USAF, USMC, and RAF pilots are embedded with two of RAAF’s F-35 squadrons, No. 77 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron.
After a day of simulator training and academic courses, the four F-35 pilots were approved to conduct training exercises during Talisman Sabre 25 using the RAAF’s F-35 aircraft.
“The crew are treated no differently than any other RAAF F-35 pilot during Talisman Sabre 25,” Lennon said.
“The only way anyone might know it’s not an Australian in the RAAF F-35 is the accent on the radio.”
Lennon also added that familiar training and equipment usage in the F-35 make adapting to another nation’s aircraft easier than one might think.
“Thanks to the commonality of F-35 variants, aligned training and operational practices between F-35 users, the flying portion is the easiest part,” Lennon said.
“Our visiting USAF pilots are able to execute and fly a RAAF F-35 no different from their Australian wingmen.”
This recent effort in pilot interchangeability by multiple branches and nations in the F-35 community is aimed at preparing the US and its allies for future conflicts long into the future.
“Interfly has allowed the USAF to train partner nations on weapons systems they have purchased, as well as conduct exchange assignments,” Lennon said.
“However, until now, the USAF has never performed international interfly on an ad-hoc basis. This effort is part of a larger plan to normalise F-35 Interfly training with our allies.”
