An F35B Lightning II prepares to take off from Marine

An F35B Lightning II prepares to take off from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort June 29. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 pilots and maintainers are traveling to the United Kingdom to support the Royal International Air Tattoo and the Farnborough International Airshow. Personnel and equipment from both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.K. Royal Air Force will work together to display the capabilities of the F-35B. Their arrival in the UK will mark the first time the F-35 has been on UK soil. Sqn. Ldr. Hugh Nichols of the RAF will also be the first British pilot to fly the F-35 in the UK. Both mark major milestones in the evolution of the Joint Strike Fighter program. The aircraft is with VMFAT-501, Marine Aircraft Group 31.