First landing of F-35B fighter on British Navy HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier.

According to information released by the British Navy on June 9, 2021, the stealth fighter F-35 Lightning touched down for the first time on the deck of the second of Britain’s new d Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales (R09).
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The F-35B prepares to touch down on the deck of British Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales for the first time. (Picture source British Navy)

The British Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales manoeuvered into position to accept the aircraft which touched down on the sprawling flight deck with precision amid an air of excitement from the ship’s company.

Shortly after the first landing, the first take-off: Lieutenant Commander Ben, also from 207 Squadron – the joint RAF-Fleet Air Arm formation dedicated to teaching fast jet pilots how to fly and operate the stealth fighter – powered along the deck and leaped skywards courtesy of the carrier’s iconic ski ramp, blazing the trail for thousands of similar launches over the next half-century.

The jet and ship are carrying out Sea Acceptance Trials which test the ship’s ability to not only receive and launch the jets but also maintain near-continuous air operations. The stealth fighter shared the deck with three Army Air Corps Apaches, embarked before Prince of Wales departed Portsmouth at the weekend.

The HMS Prince of Wales (R09) is the second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. built for the British Navy. The ship was formally commissioned into the Royal British Navy at a ceremony in Portsmouth on 10 December 2019.

The HMS Prince of Wales is not fitted with catapults as American aircraft carriers. The ship is designed to operate V/STOL (vertical and/or short take-off and landing) aircraft. She is currently planned to carry up to 40 F-35B Lightning II stealth multirole fighters and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare, although in surge conditions the class is capable of supporting 70+ F-35B.

The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35A aircraft. Similar in size to the A variant, the F-35B has been designed to be used by Naval Forces.