ATLANTA — The Air Force’s newest stealth fighter will return to air shows across North America this spring demonstrating precision maneuvers and educating the public of its combat capabilities.
The F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team are rehearsing on the ground and in the air for their first show in May. Pilot Capt. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe will showcase the jet’s handling characteristics and high speed maneuvers.
F-35A to Showcase Top Precision Maneuvers
Capt. “Beo” Wolfe is the Air Force’s only single-ship female squadron commander and pilot. She continues to train to stay combat ready at her home base near Salt Lake City.
“When I’m flying the demonstration, I’m trying to show people just a small example of what the jet is capable of doing,” Capt. Wolfe discussed on Tuesday. “We designed the routine specifically to showcase the maximum maneuvering capabilities of the F-35.”
The aircraft’s air show performance highlights only a few of its precision maneuvers. Several other capabilities by the F-35 are classified, including a basic surface attack and dropping weapons.
“Our jets come straight off the flight line from the combat-ready squadrons at Hill Air Force Base,” Capt. Wolfe said. “The aircraft we bring to air shows could either have been to or just recently come back from an operation overseas.”
The F-35A Demo Team’s first public air show is scheduled for May 30 – 31, near Atlanta. This will be their only show in the southeast.
Other show sites include Washington state, Illinois, Michigan, Alaska, California, and Toronto, Canada.
In addition to performing solo, Capt. Wolfe will also perform a close formation flight with an Air Force warbird. Known as the Heritage Flight, the F-35A will fly alongside an aircraft from yesteryear and possibly fly with a current jet aircraft.
The team’s dedicated crew chief Staff Sgt. Roberto Tejada-Najera oversees the maintenance and inspections on the F-35 aircraft. He is looking forward to the start of the air show season and meeting with guests in attendance.
“I’m not the most outgoing person, but I love getting to talk to the public and explaining to them what it’s like being a maintainer and showing them around the jet,” he said. “I wanted to join the Air Force and be on a demonstration team, so this is kind of my way of paying it forward.”
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
