Two F-35A pilots assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada, conducted the squadron’s first operational flights with the Lightning II on 10 April 2013. The aircraft were flown by Capt. Brad Matherne, the 422nd TES F-35 division commander and Lt. Col. Benjamin Bishop, the 422nd TES director of operations. A simulator is also being constructed on Nellis AFB to test and develop tactics for advanced training. Together with continued operational flights, Air Force officials will begin to see how the Lightning II reacts to realistic enemies in real-world operations. The Air Force plans to assign 20 more F-35s to Nellis AFB by 2020.
