A brand new Dutch F-35A

Earlier last month, on 9 September 2020, F-35A Lightning II serial F-014 was pictured during a test flight from the Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) line in Cameri, near Novara where Italian and Dutch F-35s are assembled.

The Lightning II will be delivered to the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) but is facing, together with sistership F-013, some construction issues that have to be solved first.

It is anticipated that both aircraft will be delivered to Leeuwarden air base somewhere this month.

The FACO Division also produces complete wing sets for aircraft assembled in the USA, using composite and metal structures manufactured in Foggia and Nola plants (Aerostructures Division) and Venegono (Aircraft Division). The US government selected Cameri’s plant as the European Regional Heavy Airframe Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul & Upgrade (MRO&U) Center.

In the meantime, all four F-35As from 322sq, based at Leeuwarden air base (the Netherlands) were in the air at the same moment on 1 October 2020.