33rd To Train F-35

The 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida, was selected in early August as the schoolhouse for new US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Allied F-35 Lightning II pilots and maintainers. The wing will include instructors from all three US military services as well as instructors from allied militaries. All three versions of the new fighter will be used in training: F-35A conventional takeoff and landing, F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing, and F-35C carrier variant. The wing will transfer from Air Combat Command to Air Education and Training Command when it assumes the F-35 training mission. The first F-35s are slated to arrive at Eglin by 2010.