The 301st Fighter Wing recently received its first two F-35s at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, marking a new era for Air Force Reserve Command’s first standalone F-35 wing.

‘New Chapter’

“The arrival of the F-35 marks a new chapter for the 301st Fighter Wing,” said Col. Benjamin R. Harrison, 301st Fighter Wing commander.

The unit’s first two F-35s are equipped with initial Tech Refresh-3 (TR-3) software, which enables new cutting-edge Block 4 capabilities.

Not Ferry Far

Ferry flights – transporting an aircraft to its home base – can be short or long and involve single or multi-leg trips. These hometown hops were relatively simpler affairs.

Future Fighters

Last year, the 301st Fighter Wing conducted their last deployment with F-16s – a bittersweet milestone for members of Texas’ only Air Force Reserve fighter unit.

“The F-16 has been the backbone of our operations for decades, and it’s sad to see it go,”  Harrison said last year. “But at the same time, we’re excited for the new opportunities that lie ahead.”