The training and flying portion of the US Air Force’s Operational Utility Evaluation, or OUE, of the F-35 Lightning II fighter was completed on schedule on 15 November 2012. Four pilots, Maj. Joseph Scholtz, Lt. Col. Brian O'Neill, Maj Cougar Wilson, and Maj. Scout Johnston began their training with the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida, the Lightning II training unit, when the evaluation started on 10 September. Six weeks of academic training and twenty-four sorties later, they are all now fully qualified F-35A pilots. The flying portion of the evaluation was completed in less than half the time than officials originally estimated.
