Eglin event to mark arrival of F-35s - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Eglin event to mark arrival of F-35s

Air Force officials officially will welcome the F-35 Lightning II to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in a ceremony on Friday.

The event celebrates the long-anticipated arrival of the first F-35 aircraft at Eglin.

The F-35 Lightning II is a multirole fighter and attack aircraft that will be used by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as several foreign militaries. Eglin will be a primary training center for F-35 flight crew and maintenance personnel.

Eglin currently has two of the next-generation aircraft. The first F-35 touched down at the base on July 14 and the second arrived about a week later.

The F-35 deliveries were delayed multiple times due to problems during flight testing, and technical woes have followed the aircraft since its arrival at Eglin.

Both F-35s have been grounded since Aug. 2, when engineers discovered a major engine problem in a test aircraft.

The welcoming ceremony will be hosted by Gen. Edward Rice, commander of the Air Education and Training Command. Other guest speakers include Lockheed Martin executive Larry Lawson, general manager of the F-35 Program, and 33rd Fighter Wing Commander Col. Andrew Toth.

The ceremony is not open to the public.