@ Salinas, CA
October 2021
The 2021 California International Airshow Salinas featured this F-35C based at NAS Lemoore, seen here trailing vapor during a photo pass. The F-35C variant is designed to operate from aircraft carriers and features larger wings with folding wingtips, larger control surfaces, stronger landing gear, twin-wheel nose gear, and a stronger tailhook. The larger wing area allows for decreased landing speed while increasing both range and payload. The F-35C first flew in 2010, and the U.S. Navy declared the F-35C combat ready in February 2019. This aircraft, CF-19, was delivered in December 2014 and was the first F-35C delivered to the USMC. A forecast total of 2,456 F-35s are planned for the US military.
