F35 Lightning fighter jets landing at RAAF Richmond tomorrow…

Lots of locals were disappointed last Friday when the RAAF F35 Lightning jet fighters were a no-show at Richmond base but they’re giving it another go tomorrow – Friday.

The fighter pilots from No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit will be practicing take off and landing into RAAF Richmond between 9:00–11:30am and 1:00–4:30 pm.

The pilots – there will be four of the $90m a piece supersonic aircraft – will be practicing what they call diversion training which sees aircraft which normally fly out of other airfields practice take offs and landing at Richmond.

Defence tell us, “please note that this is a training activity, not a scheduled flypast or display, and will proceed at the unit’s discretion, when conditions are best suited to meeting their capability objectives.

“This training is currently programmed to involve up to four aircraft conducting circuits into RAAF Base Richmond, before departing to return to RAAF Base Williamtown,” said a Defence spokesperson.

The F35 is said to be the most expensive weapon system ever built, at around $90million per plane, and Australia has ordered 72, all of which will be here by 2023.

Currently we have 33 flying our skies. The government committed to buying $15.5billion worth of these potent machines.

Fingers crossed for all you jet plane fans out there it goes ahead tomorrow.

We’ll let you know if things change…

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