Lockheed F-35A Lightning II  

USAF 33rd FW, 58th FS Gorillas, #08-0747, Eglin AFB, FL, 2011

1/144 Postage Stamp PS5602

The postage stamp die-cast metal, historical airplanes include aircraft from WWI to present. They are fully decorated with authentic details and come with a display stand. Wingspans are from 4 1/2" to 8".

Lockheed F-35A Lightning II 08-0747 (AF-9) was the 4th production model of the F-35 making its first flight on May 13, 2011 and on July 14, 2011 was the first F-35 received by the 33rd FW/58th FS at Eglin AFB, Florida. 08-0747 was flown to Eglin by the first USAF qualified F-35 line pilot, Lt. Col. Eric Smith of the 58th FS. The 33rd FW is an F-35 training unit equipped with a new Integrated Training Center and will be used to train pilots and maintenance crews.

Lockheed F-35A Lightning II
Designed to meet the US Military's requirement for a multi-role Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35 was first flown on December 15, 2006. This single-seat fighter is one of the most advanced aircraft of our time, said to be four times more effective at air-to-air combat and eight times more effective at air-to-ground combat than any other existing aircraft. It uses a low-maintenance stealth technology, and some versions have an innovative Lift System, which gives the F-35 vertical take-off and landing capabilities. The US plans to buy a total of 2,443 F-35s at a cost of $323 billion, which makes the F-35 the most expensive defense program in history.