USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team

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USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team

F-35B Lightning II Demonstration 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.

F-35BVliegtuig
1In the display
ActiefStatus
OperatorUnited States Marine Corps AviationLandVerenigde StatenTypeSolo displayHome baseMarine Corps Air Station BeaufortStatusActief
Het verhaal

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.

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.USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team · verified 2026-10-02
In één oogopslag

USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team in numbers

The team

Formation
1 vliegtuig

  • Single F-35B display
  • East and West Coast pilots

Het vliegtuig

Flown
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II

  • F-35B Lightning II

Thuis

Based at
MCAS Beaufort

  • VMFAT-501 (east)
  • VMFAT-502, MCAS Miramar (west)

The display

Aircraft in the display
1
Het vliegtuig

Every type USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team has flown

Vliegtuig Jaren Number Opmerking
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II since 2019 1 Short take-off and vertical landing variant.
Tijdlijn

USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team, year by year

2014

F-35B air show debut at MCAS Miramar.

2016

First trans-Atlantic flight, to RIAT at RAF Fairford.

2019

First full F-35B aerial demonstration at the Beaufort Air Show.

2024

Maj. Craig Norris designated West Coast demo pilot with VMFAT-502.

2026

Maj. William Horn flies the solo and MAGTF demos at the MCAS Cherry Point air show.

Vragen en antwoorden

Everything people ask about USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team

What does the F-35B demo show?
Aerobatic manoeuvres plus the F-35B’s short take-off, hover and vertical landing capability.
Where is the F-35B Demo Team based?
The East Coast team flies from MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina (VMFAT-501); the West Coast demo from MCAS Miramar, California (VMFAT-502).
When did the F-35B demo start?
The first full aerial demonstration was flown at the Beaufort Air Show in April 2019.
How many aircraft does the F-35B Demo Team fly?
One F-35B in a solo display.

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Around USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team

De operatorUnited States Marine Corps AviationFleet, bases and order of battle of the service that flies the team.Read the United States Marine Corps Aviation pageSolo displayA-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration TeamThe USAF’s single-ship Warthog display from Davis-Monthan, heir to more than 40 years of A-10 demos, which flew its last show on 10 November 2024 as the A-10 fleet…Read the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team pageFormation aerobatic teamBlue AngelsThe US Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, flying since 1946 and now on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: a six-jet show of diamond formation work and opposing solos…Read the Blue Angels pageToon teamsEvery military display teamAll the formation, solo and helicopter teams in the Order of Battle, active and disbanded.Open the list
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Verified 2026-10-02.