The first Royal Australian Air Force F-35A pilot, Sqdn. Ldr. Andrew Jackson, made his first flight in a Lightning II on 17 March 2015 at Eglin AFB, Florida. The flight came in a US Air Force F-35A, as the Australian F-35A aircraft are currently located at Luke AFB, Arizona, in anticipation of the opening of the international pilot training center in mid 2015. Jackson will continue his intensive training program over the coming months. The first RAAF F-35A aircraft will arrive in Australia at the end of 2018 with the first operational squadron to be established by 2020. The F-35A will replace F/A-18A/B Hornets at RAAF Williamtown in New South Wales and at RAAF Tindal in Northern Territory.
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