Maj. Aric Liberman, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) Maintenance Officer, conducted the squadron's first training sortie with the F-35B Lightning II on 21 February 2013 at MCAS Yuma, Arizona. The flight not only marked the first local flight of the F-35B in Yuma, it marked the first time a flight was conducted with the Marine Corps, or any service branch, primarily responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft. Known as the Green Knights, VMFA-121 received its first F-35B in November 2012. VMFA-121 will be home to approximately 300 Marines and is scheduled to receive a total of sixteen F-35Bs through the end of 2013.
