The BF-01 aircraft soon to be put on display was actually the very first Lightning II to perform a vertical landing.
There are several noteworthy museums in the United States that aviation buffs can visit and see historically relevant aircraft. None of the collections has a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The costly fifth-generation stealth fighter is in active service, and it could be years before visitors get to see an F-35 on display.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force does have a helmet and flight suit belonging to Lt. Col. Christine Mau, the first female pilot of the stealth fighter, in its collection. At some future date, the famed museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Dayton, Ohio, will almost certainly receive an F-35A Lightning II, the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, operated by the US Air Force.
“BF-01” Will Be Displayed at a South Carolina Marine Base
However, in the coming months, an F-35B, the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) model, will be placed on permanent static display at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina, according to a Naval Air Systems Command (NASC) announcement. Interestingly, the BF-01 aircraft was actually the very first Lightning II to perform a vertical landing, and was recently transported from Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, to the MCAS facility.
It took a CH-53 K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter to transport the inoperable F-35 to the base. The now-retired F-35B is “without its mission or propulsion systems, outer wings, or additional equipment”—but it is unclear whether it will be partially restored for display purposes.
BF-01 made its maiden flight on June 11, 2008, but it wasn’t until March 18, 2010, that it conducted a vertical landing at NAS Patuxent River with test pilot Graham Tomlison at the controls. The same F-35B also carried out the first vertical takeoff. In December 2012, the aircraft made its 1,000th flight.
BF-01, one of three F-35Bs that carried out flight trials at Patuxent River, continued to be employed in STOVL tests until it was retired in 2022.
Delivering a Plane Via Helicopter?
The story of how the BF-01 was delivered to South Carolina is nearly as impressive as the actual aircraft. As noted, it was carried to its new home by the Sikorsky CH-53K. The heavy-lift helicopter successfully carried the 22,000-pound Lightning II without incident.
“This mission’s success exemplifies the professionalism, commitment, and capability that exists at HMH-461,” said Commanding Officer of HMH-461, Lt. Col. Bagley. “I am incredibly proud of the team here and extremely grateful for the support and collaboration that occurred between each group, station, agency, and program office that played a role.”
This marked the second time that the USMC’s King Stallion carried an F-35. The previous time occurred in December 2022, when an inoperable F-35C, the US Navy’s and Marine Corps’ carrier-based version, was employed during a load certification lift test.
The CH-53K King Stallion is an upgrade to the previous models in the series and will assume the duties of the CH-53E Super Stallion. The new model features several “significant improvements,” including “state-of-the-art, fly-by-wire technology” that is meant to reduce pilot workload, while improving the heavy lift helicopter’s stability, and improving its overall safety.
“Although the helicopter only reached IOC in April 2022, the King Stallion has already been used multiple times to execute its Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) mission,” said Col. Kate Fleeger, program manager for the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261).
TRAP is one of the core missions of the CH-53K, NASC explained.
“The CH-53K is not merely an upgrade of the CH-53E,” added Lt. Col. Bagley, “It represents a fundamental shift in how Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadrons can enable warfighting concepts like distributed aviation operations and maritime operations in a contested environment.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
