Hobby Master 1/72 HA4603 Lockheed F-35B 168719, VMFA-121, MCAS YUMA, Arizona

The Lockheed F-35 is an advanced stealth fifth generation fighter combining speed and superb agility. There are three variants; F-35A, B and C. The F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing) and has four internal weapons stations in two weapons bays plus three optional external weapons stations. The F-35B STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) variant while the F-35C is a CV (Carrier Variant). The F-35 will replace the USAF A-10 and F-16, the F/A-18 for the USN and the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the USMC.

Lockheed Martin F-35B Bu.No. 168719 c/n BF-21 made its maiden flight on October 24 2012. On November 16, 2012 168719 was accepted for service as VK-01 and in January 2013 was assigned to VMFA-121 “Green Knights” based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. For 2 weeks in May 2015 168719 along with four other aircraft from VMFA-121 and two from VMFAT-501 carried out the first phase of shipboard operational testing on the USS Wasp. This marked the second time F-35 operated from an assault carrier.