Eglin Air Force Base welcomes first female F-35 pilot

VALPARAISO, Fla., May 7 (UPI) -- Lt. Col. Christine Mau became the first female F-35 Lightning II pilot after she began training near Valparaiso, Fla. at the Eglin Air Force Base.

Mau, the 33rd Fighter Wing Operations Group deputy commander, completed 14 virtual training missions before her first training flight in the single-seat fifth-generation fighter, according to a statement released by the Eglin Air Force Base.

She formerly flew an F-15E Strike Eagle.

"It wasn't until I was taxiing to the runway that it really struck me that I was on my own in the jet," Mau said. "I had a chase aircraft, but there was no weapons system officer or instructor pilot sitting behind me, and no one in my ear like in simulators."

Mau joins 87 other F-35 pilots who have trained in the last four years at Eglin Air Force Base.

"It felt great to get airborne. The jet flies like a dream, and seeing the systems interact is impressive. Flying with the Helmet Mounted Display takes some adjusting, but it's an easy adjustment," Mau said. "The training missions in the simulator prepare you very well, so you're ready for that flight."

Although she may be the first female in the F-35 program, Mau said gender has no relevance to her performance as a pilot. Women have served in combat aviation roles in those and other aircraft for more than 20 years, according to Eglin Air Force Base.

"Flying is a great equalizer," Mau said. "The plane doesn't know or care about your gender as a pilot, nor do the ground troops who need your support. You just have to perform. That's all anyone cares about when you're up there - that you can do your job, and that you do it exceptionally well."