First RAAF F-35A Operational Conversion Course to Graduate in July

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will complete its first F-35A Lightning II Operation Conversion Course held in Australia in July.

Four F-35A pilots completed their first flight as part of the course at RAAF Base Williamtown in February.

Transitioning to the F-35A isn’t easy according to Commanding Officer of No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, Wing Commander Jordon Sander. The first time trainee pilots fly the F-35A, they go solo. To ease the transition from a two-seat trainer to a single-seat aircraft, the RAAF makes extensive use of simulator training.

“Use of the simulator beforehand is very important so we can be confident the trainee can safely and effectively complete a task,” Sander says. “It is an excellent training tool.”

Since the F-35A does not have a twin-seat trainer, the RAAF decided to introduce a ‘chase’ aircraft to provide airborne instructions to trainee F-35A pilots. “Conversion phase on the F-35A will see two aircraft operating in pairs, with the trainee in one aircraft followed by a qualified instructor in the second aircraft known as a chase,” Sander said.

The No. 21-1 Operation Conversion Course commenced in January, when the pilots graduated from the Introductory Fighter Course held on the Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter (LIFT) at No. 76 Squadron.