Hobby Master 1/72 HA4419 Lockheed Martin F-35A 15-5194, 466th FS Diamondbacks, 419th FW, Oct. 2018

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.

The 466th FS “Diamondbacks” are assigned to the 419th FW located at Hill AFB, Utah. The 419th FW is only one of forty U.S. Air Force Reserve units and is the only AFRC (Air Force Reserve Command) in Utah. In September 2015 Hill AFB received the first F-35 and on December 10, 2018 F-35A 15-5194 was delivered to the Hill AFB 419th FW and the 466th FS. The 419th FW borrows aircraft on an as-needed basis from the operational unit 388th FW/ 34th FS Rams they share Hill AFB with.