The F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team is a United States Air Force flight demonstration team under the 388th Fighter Wing currently stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Davis County, Utah. The team flies the USAF's F-35A fighter jet at airshows performing air maneuvers that demonstrate the supermaneuverability of the F-35A. Examples of these demonstrations include the minimum radius turn to high alpha loop, weapons bay door pass, pedal turn, slow speed to power climb and tactical pitch.[1]
| F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team | |
|---|---|
 The F-35A Demo Team performs a weapons bay doors pass | |
| Active | 2018–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Aerobatic display team |
| Size | 1 officer 11 enlisted support personnel |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Hill Air Force Base Davis County, Utah |
| Equipment | F-35A Lightning II |
| Website | https://www.388fw.acc.af.mil/F-35A-Demo-Team/ |
| Commanders | |
| Current Commander | Captain Melanie "Mach" Kluesner |
The demonstration team was founded in late 2018 and was originally stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona,[2] It moved to Hill Air Force Base in 2019.[3]
The current demonstration pilot and commander of the team is Captain Melanie "Mach" Kluesner. [4] Captain Kluesner takes over for the former demonstration pilot and team commander, Major Kristin "Beo" Wolfe.[5]
References
edit- ^ "F-35 Demo Team pilot practices new maneuvers". Luke Air Force Base. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "How The F-35 Demo Team Is Changing Minds About the Joint Strike Fighter Program". The Aviationist. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Air Force F-35A demo team to move from Glendale base to Utah". AZ Central. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "F-35 Demo Team announces new pilot and commander".
- ^ "Maj. Kristin Wolfe: A Trailblazing Legacy in the Skies". DVIDS. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.