The first F-35 basic course students to come straight out of undergraduate pilot training will start coursework in December, Air Education and Training Command chief Gen. Darryl Roberson told reporters at ASC16. He also said the first instructors from foreign countries—Australia and Italy—are teaching students at Luke AFB, Ariz., and instructors from other countries will be joining them soon. Last week’s fuel line problems (which grounded F-35s in several locations) affected four jets in AETC, but the grounding will have “no impact on pilot production” because other aircraft are available for instruction flights at Luke, Roberson said.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the site of U.S. Space Command’s future home Dec. 12 and endorsed the move to establish the headquarters in Alabama after years of political back and forth.
