Photo By Airman 1st Class Reagan Hardy | U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II, tail number 08-0747, takes off from Eglin Air Force...... read more read more
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EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Nomad heritage runs deep at the 33rd Fighter Wing and July 14, 2011 marked a turning point in the wing’s evolution. On this day, the wing’s first F-35A Lightning II, tail number 08-0747, arrived at Eglin Air Force Base.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Eric Smith, Air Force pilot, flew aircraft 747 to Eglin AFB. Smith is currently a Lockheed Martin contract instructor pilot for the Academic Training Center at the 33rd FW-still contributing to the wing’s F-35 training operations.
“Coming into Eglin that first day was pretty exciting. I had the red carpet rolled out and everything, so I taxied right up to the red carpet and was met by the wing commander and local Lockheed rep…It was warm, but overall, it was a pretty smooth flight bringing 747 in.”
The addition of the F-35 to the 33rd FW and transition to Air Education and Training Command opened the gates to new training opportunities–improving the fighting force and producing pilots trained in the newest fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
After the arrival, Smith pioneered training operations at the 58th Fighter Squadron and helped build the 33rd FW’s F-35 pilot program from the ground up.
“It was an honor to be a small part of something that has had and will continue to have such a big impact on Eglin AFB and the Emerald Coast,” said Smith.
Over the past few months, maintainers have been preparing 747 for its departure from the 33rd FW to its permanent home at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.
Due to the climate of the Florida panhandle, lightning-modified jets are more suitable for pilot training, because they are updated to be able to fly within 25 nautical miles of lightning. Older jets without the modification negatively impact the efficiency of training.
“This one and others were never going to be lightning-capable,” Barnett added. “It makes more sense to send these aircraft to Luke, where Arizona has less potential for weather attrition.”
Aircraft 747 could not depart without preparation and the efforts of dozens of Airmen from 33rd Maintenance Group.
“Over the last three months, easily over 100-150 people have touched this airplane,” Barnett explained.
From its arrival until now, 747 flew a total of 1,554 hours and 1,089 sorties.
Advancing technology and streamlined processes are driving the 33rd FW to new levels of performance and readiness.
“747 will forever be a part of our Nomad legacy. But, as former CMSAF Bass often said, ‘what got us here, won’t get us there…’ The aircraft change, we [Airmen] rotate, but Nomad’s always look forward. The future of combat airpower demands it,” said Col. Dave Skalicky, 33rd Fighter Wing Commander.
On September 25, 2025, the 33rd FW said farewell to 747, but the saying remains true: “Once a Nomad, always a Nomad!”
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.14.2025 18:00 |
| Story ID: | 550155 |
| Location: | EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The 33rd FW’s first F-35 departs Eglin AFB, by A1C Reagan Hardy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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