US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team

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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-35CAeronave
1In the display
AtivoStatus
Photo: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Bassett / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
OperadorUnited States Naval AviationPaísEstados UnidosTipoSolo displayHome baseNaval Air Station LemooreStatusAtivo
A história

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
À primeira vista

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

The team

Formation
1 aeronave

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

A aeronave

Flown
Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II

  • F-35C Lightning II

Lar

Based at
NAS Lemoore

  • VFA-125 Rough Raiders

The display

Aircraft in the display
1
A aeronave

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

Aeronave Anos Number Observação
Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II 2 Primary and spare.
Linha do tempo

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.

Perguntas e Respostas

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.

Continue a excursão

Around US Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team

O operadorUnited States Naval AviationFleet, bases and order of battle of the service that flies the team.Read the United States Naval Aviation 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 pageSolo displayUS Navy Rhino Demo TeamThe US Navy’s Super Hornet tactical demonstration, flown as a collateral duty by instructors of the two Super Hornet training squadrons at Oceana and Lemoore.Read the US Navy Rhino Demo Team pageEquipes de exibiçãoEvery military display teamAll the formation, solo and helicopter teams in the Order of Battle, active and disbanded.Open the list
Fontes e Leitura Complementar

Todos os fatos foram verificados.

Verified 2026-10-02.