F-16 pilots chosen as first F-35 instructors

[unhappycamper]

F-16 pilots chosen as first F-35 instructors
Staff report
Posted : Monday Jan 26, 2009 18:45:13 EST

Two pilots from F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons at Luke Air Force Base, Texas, are among the pilots tapped to form the initial cadre for the F-35 Lightning II.

Lt. Col. Stephen Pieper, 310th Fighter Squadron director of operations, was selected to be a squadron commander, according to an Air Force news release. Maj. Chad Lewis, 56th Operations Support Squadron assistant director of operations in weapons and tactics, was chosen as one of the first instructor pilots for the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft.

Both officers already fly as F-16 instructor pilots for Air Education and Training Command.

The two aviators will be part of the initial group of 10 instructors in the F-35 training program at Eglin Air Force Base. Fla., and will be responsible for training all subsequent instructors. Along with formal training unit instructor responsibilities, the initial cadre will develop tactics and assist with systems development in future F-35 variants.


Article about this $239,000,000 second place finisher in the stealth sweepstakes at: http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/01/airforce_f35_pilots_012609/%2e