Royal Australian Air Force pilot flies first partner F-35 sortie

Royal Australian Air Force Maj. Andrew Jackson, 61st Fighter Squadron RAAF squadron leader, performs pre-flight checks in a RAAF F-35 A Lightning II at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, May 14, 2015. Pre-flight checks help ensure the aircraft is fit and flight ready. Jackson was the first Australian pilot to fly the RAAF F-35 at Luke. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Hensley)

Royal Australian Air Force pilot flies first partner F-35 sortie

Royal Australian Air Force Maj. Andrew Jackson, 61st Fighter Squadron RAAF squadron leader, straps on a gravitational force suit prior to a flight at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, May 14, 2015. Jackson was preparing to fly the first RAAF F-35 A Lightning II flight at Luke. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Hensley)

Royal Australian Air Force pilot flies first partner F-35 sortie

Published May 15, 2015
By by Senior Airman Grace Lee
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, AZ -- Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, the first F-35 Senior National Representative to Luke, made history today flying the first RAAF F-35A Lightning II sortie at Luke Air Force Base.

While the completion of the sortie represents a milestone for the RAAF, for Jackson, it's also about building his experience and competence in the F-35 over the short term.

"My focus is on representing the RAAF as a valuable partner in the F-35 enterprise," Jackson said. "Hopefully I can contribute in some way to the work that's already taken place to help ensure a smooth transition from the AF/A-18 to the F-35A. It's very exciting to finally be at Luke with the 61st Fighter Squadron and to get to fly an RAAF F-35A. Whilst I'm told that all the F-35s are the same, it's awesome to finally go flying in a jet that has 'Skippy' painted on the side."

With the sortie completed, RAAF personnel can forge ahead and advance in their mission at Luke.

"This marks a major milestone for partner operations here at Luke, as the next phase of operations," said Squadron Leader Nathan Draper, 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit participant maintenance liaison officer. "We have been on the ground supporting the mission with our jets and now one of our instructor pilots will also contribute to this team in one of our aircraft."

The RAAF's future goals include not only helping train future F-35 pilots and gaining experience in flying it but understanding what goes into maintaining the jet.

"The future is promising with the F-35," Draper said. "With each new update to the ground based support systems comes enhanced capability and supportability features. We will continue to define and refine the baseline configuration and move toward initial operating capability for each of the partners and services."

With the anticipated sortie accomplished Jackson is glad to be at Luke.

"We're looking forward to training at Luke for a number of reasons--it's been a long way to move with my family, but the phenomenal hospitality and generosity afforded to us by both the base and local community has made this move easy," Jackson said. "Combine that with the amazing weather, airspace and proud history of partner training at Luke and you have an unbeatable combination - There's nowhere that myself and the other Australian pilots would rather be training on the F-35A, than Luke Air Force Base."