US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team

US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team

F-35C Lightning II Demonstration Team

The Navy’s carrier-variant F-35 tactical demonstration, flown by instructors of the VFA-125 “Rough Raiders” training squadron at NAS Lemoore.

F-35CLetadlo
1In the display
AktivníPostavení
Photo: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Bassett / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
OperátorUnited States Naval AviationZeměSpojené státyTypSolo displayHome baseNaval Air Station LemoorePostaveníAktivní
Příběh

US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team: how the team came to be and what it flies today

Rough Raiders at Lemoore

The F-35C demonstration is run by VFA-125 “Rough Raiders”, the West Coast F-35C fleet replacement squadron at NAS Lemoore, California, which earlier flew F/A-18C Hornet demonstrations. The Navy received tentative approval in 2019 for F-35C aerobatic performances at eight to ten shows in 2020, the year after the F-35C reached initial operational capability. The team appears at a select number of shows each season; in June 2026 it made its debut at the Dayton Air Show in Ohio.

Tactical demo and Legacy Flight

An FAA-hosted support manual dated January 2023 describes a team of up to two F-35Cs (primary and spare), three pilots, six to eight maintainers and a ground safety observer, flying a 12 to 15 minute tactical demonstration and a Navy Legacy Flight with historic aircraft. Like the other Navy tactical demo teams it was grounded after the May 2026 Growler collision and cleared again on 10 June 2026.

An FAA-hosted support manual dated January 2023 describes a team of up to two F-35Cs (primary and spare), three pilots, six to eight maintainers and a ground safety observer, flying a 12 to 15 minute tactical demonstration and a Navy Legacy Flight with historic aircraft.US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team · verified 2026-10-02

Na první pohled

US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team in numbers

The team

Formation
1 letadlo

  • Single F-35C display plus spare
  • Three pilots, six to eight maintainers

Letadlo

Flown
Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II

  • F-35C Lightning II

Domov

Based at
NAS Lemoore

  • VFA-125 Rough Raiders

The display

Aircraft in the display
1

Letadlo

Every type US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team has flown

Letadlo Roky Number Poznámka
Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II 2 Primary and spare.

Časová osa

US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team, year by year

2019

Navy receives tentative approval for F-35C displays at 8–10 shows in 2020.

2023

VFA-125 tactical and Legacy Flight support manual issued.

2026

Team stood down with other Navy tactical demos after the Growler collision.

2026

Cleared to resume displays.


Otázky a odpovědi

Everything people ask about US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team

Who flies the Navy F-35C demo?
Instructor pilots of VFA-125 “Rough Raiders”, the F-35C training squadron at NAS Lemoore.
Where is the F-35C Demo Team based?
At NAS Lemoore, California.
How long is the F-35C demonstration?
About 12 to 15 minutes, according to the team’s 2023 support manual.
Is the F-35C demo flying in 2026?
Yes; it was cleared to resume on 10 June 2026 after a Navy-wide stand-down.