Hobby Master 1/72 HA6208 Lockheed F-35C Lightning II Argonauts USS Carl Vinson

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 carrier variant of the F-35 is the F-35C Lightning II. Lockheed Martin F-35C 168842 MSN CF-11 first flew in December 2013 and was delivered to the USN on March 27, 2014. In April it was assigned to the VFA-101 “The Grim Reapers” as NJ-104. In November 2016 168842 was re-assigned to VX-9 “The Vampires” coded XE-105 as part of the Joint Operational Test Team at Edwards AFB, California. The Edwards AFB unit has six F-35Cs along with 130 personnel that subject these aircraft to operational flight testing.