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Thunderbolt NEWS April 15, 2016 7
http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
First F-35 Lightning II SUPT slot received at Columbus AFB
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. — Force pilots, but fewer become fighter pilots 6HQLRU$LUPDQ6WHSKDQLH(QJODU
Assignment nights at Specialized Under- and even fewer still have stepped into the
graduate Pilot Training bases are where new cockpit of the F-35. Second Lt. Austin Hornsby, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 16-07,
pilots learn what aircraft they are destined FHOHEUDWHVZLWKKLVÀLJKWPDWHVDIWHUUHFHLYLQJKLVDVVLJQPHQWWRÀ\WKH)/LJKW-
to fly as they start their Air Force career. “Ever since the Air Force Academy, I ning II at 16-07 assignment night on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, March
wanted to become a fighter pilot,” Hornsby +RUQVE\ZLOOEHWKH¿UVW6837VWXGHQWHYHUWRDFFHSWWKHFKDOOHQJHRISLORWLQJ
History was made at Columbus Air Force said. “Watching the Thunderbirds and other the F-35.
Base, Mississippi, March 25, when the fighters at football games made me realize
assignment night for SUPT Class 16-07 that. Flying the T-38 was the first step, and
revealed the first-ever training slot for the it led me on the path to something greater.”
F-35 Lightning II.
Although Hornsby exhibited great skill in
Second Lt. Austin Hornsby, SUPT Class all aspects of aviation, he attributed his suc-
16-07, will be the first SUPT student to cess to the others who got him there.
receive the challenge of piloting the F-35
aircraft. “My dad was in the crowd at assignment
night and was excited as I was to hear I
“I really wanted to fly the F-22 Raptor; would be flying the newest aircraft. My flight
I was leaning toward an air-to-air fighting commander really went out on a limb and
mission,” Hornsby said. “But I never imag- put his neck out on the line for our class,”
ined I would get this chance to fly the F-35.” Hornsby said. “As a whole, our flight worked
together and excelled together. That is why
The F-35 is the U.S. Air Force’s latest fifth- we succeeded.”
generation fighter. It will bring an enhanced
capability to survive in the advanced threat Hornsby’s journey is far from over. Al-
environment in which it was designed to though he has been selected to fly the F-35,
operate. With its aerodynamic performance he will first have to compete against his
and advanced integrated avionics, the F-35 peers of the same skill to move on to train
will provide next-generation stealth, en- in the newest 5th generation fighter aircraft.
hanced situational awareness and reduced
vulnerability for the United States and al- After graduation from SUPT, future fight-
lied nations. er and bomber pilots attend Introduction to
Fighter Fundamentals to prepare them for
“The F-35 is going to do a bit of everything, their follow-on fighter or bomber aircraft.
so I’m really stoked for the opportunity,”
Hornsby said. “Not only will I get to do air- “I still have to compete for this spot at IFF
to-air, but also some air-to-ground, two really this summer,” Hornsby said. “There will be
satisfying mission sets.” 10 slots and those 10 will compete at IFF
down at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The
Many begin the journey to become U.S. Air top six will move on to the F-35 B-Course.”
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