Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs from
the US Marine Corps’ Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron (VMFA) 121 relocated from MCAS
Yuma, Arizona to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
arriving at their new base on January 18.
Iwakuni has become the rst overseas
location to receive a permanent detachment
of USMC F-35Bs. The unit is now assigned
to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine
Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force
(III MEF).
VMFA-121, formerly a 3rd MAW F/A-
Hornet squadron, was re-designated as the
USMC’s rst operational F-35 squadron in
November 2012 and it was awarded initial
operating capability on July 31, 2015.
The USMC said the F-35B “brings
strategic agility, operational exibility and
tactical supremacy to III MEF with a mission
radius greater than that of the [earlier] F/A-
18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II in support of
the US/Japan alliance”.An F-35B Lightning II from VMFA-121 lands at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan for the rst time on January- USMC Lance Cpl Joseph Abrego
Airbus rolled the prototype of the A330-
900neo out from its nal assembly line in
Toulouse, France in late December.
The aircraft, F-WTTN, is fully painted
and will now have Rolls-Royce Trent 7000
engines installed before initial ground tests.
The manufacturer said the aircraft was
scheduled to make its maiden ight duringthe rst quarter of this year, with certi cation
and delivery to launch operator TAP
Portugal due in spring 2018.
The A330-900neo (new engine option)
and its stablemate, the A330-800, werelaunched in July 2014, aiming for a
reduction in fuel consumption by up to
14% compared with the current-generation
A330-200/300. Airbus has made other
improvements to the airframe including
updated aerodynamics and new composite
sharklet wingtips giving a 12ft (3.7m)
wingspan increase.UK to Collaborate with Turkey on TF-X Programme
Officials from BAE Systems and Turkish
Aerospace Industries signed a Heads
of Agreement to collaborate on the rst
development phase of an indigenous fth-
generation ghter for the Turkish Air Force
during British Prime Minister Theresa May’svisit to Ankara, Turkey on January 28.
The so-called TF-X jet is being designed
to have a low radar cross-section with internal
weapons bays and the ability to supercruise.
Power will come from the Eurojet EJ
turbofan jet engine used in the Typhoon.BAE Systems said: “At its peak, hundreds
of Turkish and UK engineers will collaborate
on the TF-X programme helping to support
collaboration on the skills, technology and
technical expertise required to deliver the
programme.”4 Aviation News incorporating Jets March 2017HEADLINES
A330neo Rolled Out
The rst A330neo prototype has a similar
colour scheme to other prototypes within the
neo family of Airbus airliners. AirbusLightning IIs Arrive in Japan
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