Four Lockheed Martin F-35Cs arrived at
NAS Lemoore, California, on January 25 to
join the resident VFA-125 ‘Rough Raiders’.
The unit has now been re-established as a
training squadron, Lemoore becoming the
rst west coast naval installation to have
permanently assigned F-35Cs.
It also becomes the navy’s only west
coast Master Jet Base. By the end of 2017
it will have ten F-35Cs assigned, rising to
more than 100 by the early 2020s.The Israeli Air Force (IAF) retired its eet of
Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Netz ghters on
December 26, immediately offering them for
sale.After 36 years’ active service the Netz
(Hawk) stepped back from active duty with
the IAF during a ceremony at Ovda Air Base.
The last unit to operate the type was 115‘Flying Dragon’ Squadron, also known as the
‘Red Squadron’.
As well as famously bombing the Osirak
nuclear reactor in Iraq under Operation
Opera, the Netz eet was accredited with
shooting down more than 40 Syrian aircraft
during the First Lebanon War in 1982 –
many of the F-16s still sporting ‘kill’ markings
right to the end.
On April 28, 1981, a Netz achieved the
rst-ever F-16 air-to-air ‘kill’ when it shot
down a Syrian Mi-8 helicopter with its 20mm
cannon. It also played a leading role in
1996’s Operation Grapes of Wrath and the
Second Lebanon War in 2006.
Some 40 aircraft have been offered
for international sale amid rumours that
US contractor air support companies
could purchase them as high-end ‘Red
Air’ aggressor support to the US military.
Yissachar RuasThe Netz proved to be a sterling performer for the Israeli Air Force – bowing out in style on
December 26. AirTeamImages.com/4x6zk-moni shafi rMILITARY NEWS
14 Aviation News Incorporating Jets March 2017Four F-35Cs arrive at NAS Lemoore on
January 25 to join VFA-125. Lockheed MartinNAS Lemoore Enters the F-35 Era
Pilatus PC-21 Orders
UK defence company QinetiQ has ordered
two Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, the rst step in
its modernisation of the Empire Test Pilots’
School (ETPS) aircraft eet.
The two turboprop-powered trainers will
be based at Boscombe Down, Hampshire,
where they will carry out duties currently
supported by ETPS Hawks and Alpha
Jets. Students ying the PC-21 will be
taught ight test techniques by ETPS
instructors, including assessment of aircraft
performance, handling and systems such
as advanced cockpit displays and simulated
weapons.
The type was selected for its suitability
for training civil and military aircrew andengineers at signi cantly lower operating
costs than competing options, says QinetiQ.
The contract is part of a £1bn deal with
the UK Ministry of Defence, announced
on December 2, under which QinetiQ and
the MOD have agreed to invest £85m in
the school to cut costs and “enhance its
capabilities to drive future growth”.
QinetiQ CEO Steve Wadey said the
purchase “shows we are getting straight to
work in delivering on our promises. The
PC-21 and subsequent introductions to the
ETPS eet will further cement the school’s
position as a world leader in military test
aircrew training, and guarantee that it
continues to meet customers’ needs longinto the future.
“A revised syllabus will also support the
training of test pilots for civil aircraft, creating
opportunities for growth into new markets.”
Pilatus also sold 19 other PC-21s in
December –17 going to the French Air Force
and two to the Royal Jordanian Air Force,
taking Jordan’s order to ten.
The French PC-21s will be used by
an organisation established by Babcock
France and Dassault Aviation for the French
Air Force (Armée de l’Air) ‘FOMEDEC’
training contract. They will be operated
from Cognac Air Base from March 2018 and
will train pilots before they move onto the
Alpha Jet.Last Belgian Falcon 20 Retired
The Belgian Defence - Air Component has
retired the last of two Falcon 20 executive
jets operated by 15 Wing at Melsbroek
which is located in the north-west part
of Brussels Airport. The jet, CM-02, aFalcon 20E-5 VIP aircraft, had been used
to transport the royal family, ministers and
other important leaders as well as high
ranking military personnel and had been in
service for 43 years.January 2015 saw the retirement of
sister aircraft CM-01 after 16,195 ying
hours and 16,997 landings; CM-
completed 16,210 hours’ ying and 16,
landings. Gerard GaudinIsraeli Netz Fleet Farewell
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