Hobby Master HA4616 F-35B Lightning II ZM158, 207 Sqn., RAF, January 2022 The Lockheed F-35 is an advanced stealth fifth generation fighter combining speed and superb agility. There are three variants; F-35A, B and C. The F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing) and has four internal weapons stations in two weapons bays plus three optional external weapons stations. The F-35B STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) variant while the F-35C is a CV (Carrier Variant). The F-35 will replace the USAF A-10 and F-16, the F/A-18 for the USN and the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the USMC. In 2017 RAF and Royal Navy F-35B pilots would be trained by the No. 207 Squadron at RAF Markham. It wasn’t until July 16, 2019 that the first F-35s arrived and the F-35 Lightning Operational Conversion Unit stood up on August 1, 2019. The first batch of F-35s arrived in June 2018 with F-35B Lightning II ZM158 c/n 2BK0024 and two other aircraft as part of the fifth batch arrived on Thursday October 28, 2021. In February 2022 ZM158 was part of a fly past celebrating the 80th anniversary of the 8th Air Force.
