On 24 August 2021, the latest Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal netherlands Air Force) Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II with serial F-020 (construction number AN-20) made its first flight at Cameri air base (Italy).
One day later, on 25 August 2021, F-021 (c/n AN-21) made its first flight.
Production of KLu F-35As is running at a steady page. The first eight aircraft were produced with Lockheed Martin at Fort Worth (TX), the remainder are produced at the Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) line in Cameri.
Serials F-001 to F-008 are operated by the 308th Fighter Squadron Emerald Knights at Luke AFB (AZ) for the training of future pilots. Serials F-009 to F-018 are operated by 322 Squadron at Leeuwarden air base. Serials F-019 to F-021 are still with FACO Cameri.
At this moment, 46 Lightnings have been ordered by the Netherlands. In order to be able to perform its tasks properly in the coming half of a century, the KLu hopes that more funds will become available to order more F-35As.
The F-35s that have made their first flight and/or have been delivered are given in the below mentioned overview. Scrambe Magazine still misses delivery dates (d/d) for Lightning IIs F-005 and F-008. If you have information, please send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Photo by Almos Castellazzi / PSC Piti Spotter Club.