Aussie F-35s rack up 100th sortie

  • Published
  • By Courtesy of 61st FS
  • 61st Fighter Squadron
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZONA --  The Royal Australian Air Force hit the century mark at Luke Air Force Base June 3 as their F-35s notched their 100th sortie.

The partner nation is the first of 10 countries beyond the U.S. to arrive and train on F-35s at Luke. Australia currently has two of the fifth-generation jets assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron's Top Dogs. The first aircraft arrived in December.

The RAAF airmen at Luke said the 100th flight is a sign that they're continuing to forge ahead in the mission, and they look forward to future successes.

"It was a great day for us here at Luke to have completed this milestone," said Squadron Leader Nathan Draper, 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit participant maintenance liaison officer.

A35-002 flew a code 1 sortie at the hands of Maj. Matt Olson, 62nd FS assistant director of operations out of Luke AFB and in doing so achieved another landmark task for Australian operations.