The U.S. Air Force recently released a stunning photo of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team's aircraft flying under the rising Moon during the Capitol Air Show in Sacramento, California.
F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team Soars Above Sacramento
The U.S. Air Force recently released a stunning photo of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team's aircraft flying under the rising Moon during the Capitol Air Show in Sacramento, California.
Aircraft Capabilities on Full Display
The F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team is part of the 388th Fighter Wing operating out of Hill Air Force Base in Davis County, Utah. The team comprises only one plane and its pilot, but it is backed by 14 maintainers and supporting personnel.
Captain Melanie "MACH" Kluesner has been piloting the aircraft since March 2024, having already performed at no less than 11 air shows across the U.S. The F-35A version of the plane is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney turbofan engine capable of developing 43,000 pounds of thrust.
The aircraft can carry an assortment of weapons, depending on the mission profile, but the one used during air shows is naturally unarmed. This image showcases the plane's capabilities as it flies under the Moon, appearing to narrowly miss it.
For those interested in seeing the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team in action, the team will be performing at several upcoming events, including Seattle in August, Atlantic City on August 14, Latrobe on August 17, and the McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas in the last weekend of the month.