A Finnish Air Force pilot completed the first flight of an F-35A Lightning II operated by a Finnish pilot on April 15, 2026, at Ebbing Air Base in Arkansas (USA).
According to Defence Blog, the flight marks the first time a Finnish pilot has flown one of the F-35A fighters designated for Finland, moving the country’s fighter replacement program into its next phase. Until now, training had focused on classroom instruction and simulators in the United States.
The pilot described the aircraft as immediately responsive from takeoff. He noted that the jet’s performance was evident during acceleration with full afterburner and said that handling remained smooth and intuitive throughout the flight.
For Finland, this milestone is part of a broader effort to bring its next-generation fighter fleet into service on schedule. Around 150 Finnish personnel are expected to complete initial F-35 training in the United States, including approximately 20 pilots. Training is expected to continue in groups through early 2028.
Each of the eight Finnish F-35A aircraft, with serial numbers ranging from JF-501 to JF-508, will undergo airworthiness inspections and acceptance by personnel from the Finnish Air Force and the Logistics Command of the Finnish Defence Forces before entering service.
The jets, delivered to Ebbing for training, will remain in the United States until early 2028. The next batch of aircraft will be sent directly to Finland. These jets, beginning with registration JF-509, are expected to arrive starting in autumn 2026.
Photo: Yhdysvaltain ilmavoimat. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
