Training wing receives F135 spare

• Tweet

PARIS, June 22 (UPI) -- The 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida has received its first spare F135 engine from Pratt and Whitney for training purposes.

Lockheed Martin is to soon deliver the first F-35A aircraft to the training wing, which is a joint unit of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

"Delivery of the first F135 engine to Eglin in support of training operations is a significant milestone for the F-35 program," Chris Flynn, vice president, F135/F119 Engine Programs said. "Pratt and Whitney looks forward to supporting the U.S. services as they begin official training of this remarkable fifth-generation, multi-role fighter.

"We have completed the delivery of the first two production lots of engines and have started engine deliveries in the third production lot. In addition, we also recently signed a firm fixed-price contract for the fourth lot of production engines that meets the affordability objectives of our customer."

Pratt and Whitney has designed, developed and tested the F135 to deliver the most advanced fifth-generation fighter engine for the United States and its allies around the world. The F135 is the only engine powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program.

Pratt and Whitney made the delivery announcement at the Paris Air Show.