By Troy Turner
Three F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets have arrived at their new duty station in Montgomery and already are flying training sorties in the skies over Alabama.
The 187th Fighter Wing with the Alabama Air National Guard is one of only three Guard units in the nation to be equipped with the fifth-generation multi-role stealth jet, and a total of 20 F-35s are expected to fill its ranks over the next five years.
Lockheed Martin produces the F-35, which is designed for air-to-air combat as well as air-to-surface operations. They are loaded with advanced technology, including stealth capabilities, and the F-35 quickly is becoming the fighter jet of choice by U.S. allies.
The 187th Fighter Wing operates out of Dannelly Field in Montgomery and previously flew F-16 fighters. The newer F-35s will, as the F-16s were before them, be designated as Red Tails, paying tribute to the Red Tail P-51 Mustang fighter planes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.
“It is an honor to be able to fly one of the first F-35s home,” said Lt. Col. Richard Peace, a pilot with the 187th. “I have always looked up to the Tuskegee Airmen and can confidently say we will continue their legacy using the F-35s. Everyone at the wing has been hard at work preparing for this moment and it is finally here. I am excited to see everyone and to be back after months of pilot training preparing for this special day.”
Planning for the transition from F-16s to the F-35s continued for almost a decade prior to the first Lightnings arriving in Montgomery in early December. Although only three arrived in the first grouping, that trio began flying training sorties on Dec. 14.
“The F-35 changes the role that the 187th serves in the United States’ application of airpower,” said Maj. Bart Smith, a 187th Fighter Wing weapons instructor. “I’ve had the opportunity to experience the awesome capabilities that the F-35A brings to the joint fight. What truly separates the 187th apart will never be the aircraft, but the Airmen that equip, maintain and fly it.”
In the past few years, more than 33 core cadre maintainers and other support functions have trained for the arrival of the F-35s.
“They are highly skilled, highly trained maintainers that dedicated years of their lives and moved from Alabama to embed with F-35 Guard or active-duty units to learn best practices,” said Capt. Bryon Townsend, 187th Fighter Maintenance Group’s director of operations. “We are grateful for the work they have put into their training and expect them serve as the leaders that our maintenance members will look to for guidance, expertise and empowerment.”
Infrastructure work in Montgomery tied to housing the F-35s over the next several years will total approximately $112 million, defense officials reported. The wing is projected to be fully operational by 2026.
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Lt. Michael Luangkhot, 187th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this report.
ABOVE PHOTO: Courtesy photo to 187th by Billy Ellison.
BELOW PHOTO: 187th Public Affairs.
