Hobby Master 1/72 HA4421 Lockheed Martin F-35A 134th FS 158th FW Burlington Int'l Airport Vermont Air Guard Sept 2019

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.

On September 19, 2019 the first two of twenty F-35As were delivered to the Vermont ANG 134th FS/ 158th FW ‘The Green Mountain. With the arrival of these aircraft, 17-5265 ‘VT’/‘158 FW’ (c/n AF-207) and 17-5266 ‘VT’ (c/n AF-208), the Vermont ANG became the first ANG to receive the F-35A and the second operational wing in the USAF. In December 2019 three more F-35As arrived at Burlington. Originally formed as the 158th FG (Air Defense) and allotted to the Vermont ANG in 1956 the 158th eventually became the 158th FW in late 1995.