The photo shooting was part of the F/A-18 Sundown with the Black Knights.
As already reported, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, is the first Marines squadron that will replace the “Legacy” Hornet with the brand new F-35C.
For this reason, the “Black Knights” have already started training alongside the U.S. Navy’s VFA-125, the F-35’s only Fleet Replacement Squadron, based at NAS Lemoore, California. The plan is to complete the preparation by next Spring; in the future, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 will conduct the second F-35C carrier deployment, after U.S. Navy’s VFA-147 that is planned to be the first to integrate the F-35C with the Carrier Air Wing 2, aboard the Nimitz-class USS Carl Vinson in 2021.
At least one F-35C already sports full VMFA-314 markings: CF-35/169601, modex VW-434 (a former VFA-125 modex, to be changed in the future with a U.S. Marines one), that also made a public appearance at Tinker AFB Air Show, on Jun. 1, 2019.
On Jun. 5, the same aircraft, flown by Captain Tommy Beau Locke from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 “Rough Raiders” flew in formation over the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges with the VFMA-314 squadron F/A-18A++ CAG bird, flown by Lieutanant Colonel Cedar Hinton aircraft “passing the lead” as part of the F/A-18 Sundown with the Black Knights.
The images in this post, taken by Lt. Cmdr. Darin Russell are really amazing.
