USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team
The Marine Corps’ STOVL F-35B display, whose hover and bow to the crowd set it apart, flown by instructors of the two F-35B training squadrons at Beaufort and Miramar.
USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team: how the team came to be and what it flies today
From static star to full demo
The F-35B made its air show debut at MCAS Miramar in 2014 and crossed the Atlantic for the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2016, but its first full aerial demonstration came at the Beaufort Air Show, South Carolina, in April 2019: a routine of about a dozen manoeuvres including a pedal turn and a hover and vertical landing that no other US demo jet can match.
Two coasts
The demonstration is flown by instructor pilots of the Marine fleet replacement squadrons: VMFAT-501 “Warlords” at MCAS Beaufort on the East Coast and VMFAT-502 at MCAS Miramar in the west, the latter flying six or more shows a season. In 2026 the East Coast pilot, Major William Horn, flew both the solo display and the MAGTF demonstration at the MCAS Cherry Point air show.
USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team in numbers
El equipo
- Formación
- 1 avión
- Single F-35B display
- East and West Coast pilots
El avión
- Volado
- Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II
- F-35B Lightning II
Hogar
- Con sede en
- MCAS Beaufort
- VMFAT-501 (east)
- VMFAT-502, MCAS Miramar (west)
La pantalla
- Aviones en exhibición
- 1
Every type USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team has flown
| Aeronave | Años | Número | Nota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II | since 2019 | 1 | Short take-off and vertical landing variant. |
USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team, year by year
F-35B air show debut at MCAS Miramar.
First trans-Atlantic flight, to RIAT at RAF Fairford.
First full F-35B aerial demonstration at the Beaufort Air Show.
Maj. Craig Norris designated West Coast demo pilot with VMFAT-502.
Maj. William Horn flies the solo and MAGTF demos at the MCAS Cherry Point air show.
Everything people ask about USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team
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Around USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team
Todos los datos, verificados
- Here’s what the Marines’ F-35B did during first full air show demo, Military.com
- Exclusive interview with USMC’s new West Coast F-35B demo pilot, The Aviationist
- Inside the MAGTF: exclusive interview with Marine F-35B demo pilot, The Aviationist
Verificado el 2 de octubre de 2026.