To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the (a) first and (b) last pilot will complete their training on the F-35B with the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501; and how many pilots will be trained.
Answered on
18 December 2014
The first UK pilot completed training with the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) in February 2013 and, on current plans, the final UK pilots to complete their training on VMFAT-501 will do so in May 2018. A total of 24 UK pilots, comprising Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel, will be trained on VMFAT-501.
Answered by
Ministry of Defence