The F-35 Academic Training Center at Luke AFB, Ariz., has completed the first undergraduate curriculum to train F-35 pilots. The program will allow the Air Force for the first time to train F-35 pilots who have no previous fighter experience. Teams at Luke have spent the past few years developing the curriculum, which is already being put to use training the first group of pilots, who began the program on Dec. 5. To complete the entire course takes more than seven months and combines academic study with simulator experience and actual flying. The six pilots in the initial undergraduate class have trained on the T-38 Talon and the T-6 Texan II. Training squadron leadership said producing F-35 pilots who don’t need to relearn habits from their experience with previous aircraft is a key step in the development of a strong F-35 pilot community.
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
