F-35B JSF Conducts First Air-To-Air Refuelling

12:00 AM, October 12, 2012
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F-35B Joint Strike Fighters with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 from Eglin conducted the first air-to-air refuel of an operational aircraft in the program’s history. Previous aerial refueling operations with the F-35 had been conducted with test aircraft. Four Joint Strike Fighters, two at a time, on two separate sorties, took fuel midair from a KC-130J Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 based at Cherry Point. The Joint Strike Fighter’s capabilities include stealth technology, vertical and short take-off and landing, electronic warfare, and a new helmet interface that displays all of the pilot’s data internally and allows for 360-degree views of the aircraft. “It’s great to start to expand our operational capability in the context of working with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force,” said Lt. Col. David Berke, VMFAT-501 commanding officer.

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