British F-35B Lightning jets have flown from the decks of HMS Queen Elizabeth in UK waters, the first time fighter jets have operated from a British carrier in home waters in a decade. HMS Queen Elizabeth is in the North Sea, conducting Carrier Qualification for Royal Navy and Royal Air Force pilots from the UK Lightning Force, based out of RAF Marham in Norfolk.
The jets are flying daily to and from the ship’s 4.5-acre deck, giving the pilots vital experience in operating from a floating airfield in both daylight and at night, some for the very first time. It also provides further training for the ship’s crew, who have previously conducted trials with UK and US Marine Corps Lightnings in the USA.
Watching the first jet land onboard this morning, the first to do so since he took Command only a couple of weeks ago, Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, Captain Angus Essenhigh, Royal Navy, said:
“Operating UK Lightning jets, from this UK-built aircraft carrier, in home waters for the first time represents a significant milestone in our journey towards our first operational deployment together in 2021. It’s a moment that the UK should be immensely proud of. We have proven the range at which we can operate HMS Queen Elizabeth together with her jets, having spent the past two Autumns in the USA. There is now tremendous training value to be gained for both my Ship’s Company, and the Lightning Force team at RAF Marham as we work together to operate our jets to and from the ship from their land base”.
