The Lockheed Martin F-35 multi-role combat aircraft programme surpassed 250,000 flight hours last month, and the company has delivered the 500th production aircraft — a US Air Force F-35A for the Burlington Air National Guard Base in Vermont.

Of the 500 F-35s delivered to date, 354 have been F-35A conventional take-off and landing variants, 108 have been
F-35B short take-off/vertical landing variants, and 38 have been F-35C carrier variants.

The 250,000 flight hours were racked up by the entire F-35 fleet, including development, training, operational, US and international aircraft.

Greg Ulmer, general manager of the F-35 programme, said: “These milestones are a testament to the talent and dedication of the joint government, military and industry teams.

“The F-35 is delivering an unprecedented fifth-generation combat capability at the cost of a fourth-generation legacy aircraft.”

The F-35 operates from 23 bases world-wide. More than 985 pilots and over 8,890 ‘maintainers’ have been trained.

Nine nations operate the F-35 from their home soil, eight services have declared Initial Operating Capability, and four services have used F-35s in combat operations.

More details can be found at the Web site (www.f35.com).