First Australian F-35 Pilots Named

Photo by Cpl. David Said

The Royal Australian Air Force named Sqdn. Leaders Andrew Jackson and David Bell, currently based at RAAF Williamtown, New South Wales, as the first two RAAF F-35 pilots in a 1 March 2014 announcement. The announcement said the duo was selected for their operational flying skills, extensive experience, and leadership. Jackson, currently a Fighter Combat instructor will begin training at the Integrated Training Facility at Eglin AFB, Florida, in 2015. He will then transition to Luke AFB, Arizona, to fly in the US Air Force training squadron that will include the first Australian F-35As built. Bell is currently the F-35A Commonwealth Test Pilot at Headquarters, RAAF Combat Group. He will begin F-35 conversion training in mid-2015.