VFA-101 Rollout Ceremony For F-35C

On Tuesday, the official rollout ceremony for VFA-101 and the F-35C took place at Eglin Air Force Base. This event marks a milestone for the Navy’s ramping up of integration of the F-35C into naval aviation.

Admiral Bill Gortney, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, spoke on the importance of the F-35C.

“Today, we formally recognize the next generation of Naval Aviation – the F-35C,” said Gortney. “The most important revolution is fusing these weapons systems with the rest of the weapon system. Our cruisers, destroyers, P-8s, Tritons, and operational and tactical headquarters – the decision makers.”

Vice Admiral David Buss, Commander, Naval Air Forces, also spoke.

“Our Navy needs aircraft capable of overcoming a variety of threats – surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles, and tactical aircraft. The F-35C brings stealth capability to the ultimate sea base – the flight deck of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier – for the first time in our history.”

“The F-35C mixed with the capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Hawkeye, MH-60R/S helicopters will provide carrier-based Naval Aviation the ability to fulfill these requirements well into the future,”

Certain critics of the F-35 loving claiming, sometimes at great length, that the Navy is uninterested in the F-35C, and is looking for an exit ramp. When you point out the flawed thinking these critics are operating under, they often plug their ears, and attempt to ignore away facts. Based on the comments made by both Adm. Gortney, and Vice Adm. Buss, it is clear that the Navy is committed to the F-35C, and the capabilities this aircraft will bring to the Navy.

~ by arcturus415 on October 5, 2013.