Posted on June 1, 2016 David Sherman
Lockheed Martin’s F35 fighter jet will be making its first appearance in Europe, but to the surprise of many it will not take place in the United Kingdom.
Instead, the fighter jet will make its debut across the pond at the Leeuwarden Air Show in the Netherlands next month. Lieutenant Colonel Sidney Plankamn, the chief of public affairs for the Royal Netherlands Air Force confirmed that the F35 will be on display and may even be used for a test flight.
The plane is currently making its transit from Edwards Air Force Base in California to the Dutch location for the air show on June 10th and 11th. There it will undergo tests to make sure it does not cause a disturbance in the neighborhoods with it's high aircraft engine noise.
The tests are
“done in full cooperation with the residents and our local environmental groups, and [that the exercises are designed to] just get the people acquainted with the F-35,”
according to Plankman.
Starting in 2019, the Leeuwarden and Vokel Air bases will be the home to a total of 37 F-35As, joining the two they already have.
Some general characteristics of the aircraft include a Pratt & Whitney F135 after-burning turbofan and a total weapons payload of 18,000 lbs.
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