For the first time, an F-35B Lightning II is on the newest British aircraft carrier, the HMS Prince of Waleslanded. The weather off the south coast of England co-operated and showed its calm side as the jet approached and the ship set a suitable course. "It was a real honour to be the first pilot to fly the F-35B on the Prince of Wales I was allowed to land," said the pilot and commodore of 207 Squadron from Marham afterwards. Shortly afterwards, the F-35 took off again via the carrier's ski-jump, this time with another pilot from the squadron.
The Prince of Wales is currently carrying out acceptance tests to ensure safe flight operations on board. Three Apache helicopters from the Army Air Corps, which had already been embarked in Portsmouth at the weekend, were therefore still on the flight deck.
After the Queen Elizabethwhich is currently in the Mediterranean as the centre of UK Carrier Strike Group 21, is the Prince of Wales the Royal Navy's second new aircraft carrier. It was built by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, consisting of BAE Systems, VT Group and Babcock, and entered service in December 2019. At 284 metres in length, the conventionally powered carriers displace 65,600 tonnes. The up to 1600 soldiers on board will take care of up to 36 F-35Bs and 14 helicopters. The two aircraft carriers are only armed with three Phalanx systems each for defence against approaching FKs.
Almost like in a film ... only British
Text: mb; Photos: Royal Navy/Crown Copyright
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