Danish F-35 aircraft achieve new milestone in the USA.

Work is underway at high pressure at the base in the USA, where the Danish detachment has now operated with Danish F-35 aircraft for more than six months. Recently, both aircraft and employees rounded a significant milestone: all Danish aircraft have now flown 100 flight hours.

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All the knowledge that personnel build up in the USA with flying, handling and preparation of aircraft is part of the preparation that is required for the aircraft to be put into operation safely in Denmark (Picture source: Danish Armed Forces)

The Danish planes are now all in the same boat and have successfully flown the first 100 hours. This happened the other day when the aircraft "L-003", as the last of a total of four aircraft, landed after a standard operation trip.

As part of the daily training, "L-003" was on the wings and had rounded 100 hours when it returned. It's cool to feel that things are slipping and we get to fly as we should, ”says KIN, head of the Danish detachment at Luke Air Force Base.

The fact that the fighter planes have now all rounded 100 flight hours also means that the planes no longer have the same brand new shine over them. They are about to be flown to, so both ground personnel and pilots know the planes better and better. This results in a stable flight pattern and ensures the completion of operations.

“With each passing day, we are getting smarter and smarter on the four planes. We get to know them and find good solutions and methods to ensure that we can fly the hours we need, ”says KIN.

All the knowledge that personnel build up in the USA with flying, handling and preparation of aircraft is part of the preparation that is required for the aircraft to be put into operation safely in Denmark.

Earlier this month, the last of the Danish fighter pilots currently in the US was ready to fly the F-35, and all Danish pilots at Luke Air Force Base can therefore call themselves F-35 pilots. In the coming years, a large part of the Danish fighter pilots will have to go to the USA to be retrained to be able to fly the F-35.

In the spring of 2021, the first four Danish F-35 fighter jets were delivered from Lockheed Martin to the Danish detachment at Luke Air Force Base. In mid-2022, Denmark will have two more aircraft delivered and later in 2022, one more aircraft will be delivered, so that there will be a total of seven aircraft at the US base.

The first Danish F-35 fighter jets land according to plan at Skrydstrup Air Base in October 2023.

Denmark has bought a total of 27 F-35 fighter jets, which are expected to be finally phased in in 2027.

The four Danish F-35 fighter jets in their aircraft hangars (Picture source: Danish Armed Forces)