The 301st Fighter Wing Receives Its First F-35A with ‘TX’ Tail Code

Published on: November 11, 2024 at 5:31 PM
The first Texas-based F-35A Lightning II (tail code TX 5786) seen in the foreground taxiing out on the runway from the Lockheed Martin facility at NAS JRB Fort Worth around 10 am on Nov. 5, before reaching the 301st Fighter Wing, its assigned unit, for the first time. An F-35A on loan from the Hill AFB seen in the background while coming in to land. (Image credit: Victoria Fontana/@lensofmae)

The first F-35 sporting the ‘TX’ has been officially taken on charge by the “Spads” at NAS JRB Fort Worth in Texas.

Nearly a month after the F-35A Lightning II with a “TX” tail code (tail number 22-5786), piloted by a Lockheed Martin test pilot, flew bearing the markings of the 457th Fighter Squadron/301st Fighter Wing at NAS JRB (Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base) Fort Worth, Texas, the aircraft was finally received by the 301 FW on Nov. 5, 2024. The “TX” tail code represents the F-35’s home unit of the 301 FW, which is the first Air Force Reserve Command’s first stand-alone F-35 wing.

Prior to that, on Nov. 2, a First Aircraft Arrival ceremony was held at Fort Worth, at the presence of an aircraft (number 5709), with “HL” tail code, on loan from Utah’s Hill AFB (Air Force Base). The event was attended by approximately 400 guests. This included unit personnel and AFRC (Air Force Reserve Command) officials, elected officials and industry partners.

An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 301st Fighter Wing taxis on the flightline for the first time Nov. 5, 2024 at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The unit is officially the Air Force Reserve Command’s first stand-alone F-35 wing responsible for owning, maintaining and operating the F-35A mission. (Image credit: USAF/Staff Sgt. Celeste Zuniga)

The 301 FW is set to become the first Air Force Reserve unit to operate the F-35A independently, without being tied to an active duty counterpart. It is also the only Air Force Reserve fighter unit based at Texas, which was chosen in 2021 to become the Air Force Reserve Command’s first stand-alone F-35 wing responsible “for owning, maintaining and operating the F-35A mission.”

At the ceremony on Nov. 2, meanwhile, officials stressed the importance of the F-35 as a frontline weapon in future conflicts, that represents “next generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness and reduced vulnerability for U.S. and allied forces.”

First Aircraft Arrival ceremony

The ceremony and the “TX” coded F-35A’s coincided with the 301st FW celebrating “significant milestones over the past two years.” Its commander, Col. Benjamin Harrison said the 301 FW has more than 500 of its members currently serving in various combat commands worldwide. Its personnel have flown over 499 combat sorties; logging more than 3,100 hours in global missions; processed over 1,400 short tons of cargo; managed the retirement of three F-16 aircraft; and divested 18 F-16s with $20 million worth of support equipment.

The First Aircraft Arrival ceremony also saw cockpit demonstrator being delivered to the 301 FW, to be used by pilots and crews to practice flying and maintenance of the aircraft. The simulator replicates the jet’s flying characteristics and systems.

Col. Harrison stressed on the significance and capabilities of the F-35: “One can’t help but wonder how fast, how far, how high this aircraft can go. The 301st is ready to embrace this new era, and the F-35 is our vehicle to achieving sustainable air superiority,” he was quoted in the release. NAS JRB Fort Worth’s commanding officer, U.S. Navy’s Captain Beau Hufstetler underscored its importance to both the wing and broader base community.

A U.S. Airman assigned to the 301st Fighter Wing marshals an F-35A Lightning II into a hangar Nov. 5, 2024 at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The aircraft arrived a couple of days after the unit’s First Aircraft Arrival ceremony. (Image credit: USAF/Staff Sgt. Celeste Zuniga)

“Seeing these beautiful jets parked on our side of the runway is a remarkable sight. It’s a nod to the strategic importance of both the F-35 and the Airmen who will maintain and operate them in support of our nation, as all services on this base work together to prepare for the high-end fight,” said Hufstetler.

“TX” 22-5786 also finally delivered to 301st Fighter Wing

Three days after the First Aircraft Arrival ceremony, the 301 FW (nicknamed the “Spads”) received the F-35A with the “TX” tail code (5786). That aircraft had first flown from the U.S. Air Force-owned Lockheed Martin facility on Oct. 15, 2024. Flown by the 457th Fighter Squadron’s (457 FS) Lt. Col. Gregory “Smack” Balzisher, it was received at the hangar by Col. Harrison and commander of the 301st Maintenance Squadron, Major Stacy Chavez, on Nov. 5.

After landing at NAS JRB Fort Worth, the F-35A taxied on the flightline for the first time on Nov. 5. Pictures shared with The Aviationist by Victoria Fontana showed 5786 (callsign Mustang 11) taxiing out from the Lockheed Martin facility around 10 am on Nov. 5, for its delivery to the 301 FW “Spads”.

That picture also showed another F-35A with Utah’s Hill AFB (Air Force Base) tail markings. As The Aviationist had explained in the report about the “TX” tail coded 5786’s Oct. 15 first flight, the 457th FS has been operating three F-35As on loan from the Hill AFB, since August. On Aug. 8, 2024. 301 FS received its first two F-35A Lightning II jets (followed by another one) to replace their aging F-16 C/Ds at NAS JRB Fort Worth.

TX tail code
The first F-35A (5786) with tail code “TX” coming to land. (Image credit: Victoria Fontana/@lensofmae)

These initial jets sport the Hill AFB’s markings (“HL”) on their tails that reached the 301 FW straight from the factory. They would be eventually reassigned to the Hill AFB’s 419th Fighter Wing, the Air Force Reserve’s other F-35A unit. The 301 FW at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas is part of the 10th Air Force, which is scheduled to receive a total of 26 total F-35A Lightning II aircraft over the next 9-12 months.

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Parth Satam's career spans a decade and a half between two dailies and two defense publications. He believes war, as a human activity, has causes and results that go far beyond which missile and jet flies the fastest. He therefore loves analyzing military affairs at their intersection with foreign policy, economics, technology, society and history. The body of his work spans the entire breadth from defense aerospace, tactics, military doctrine and theory, personnel issues, West Asian, Eurasian affairs, the energy sector and Space.
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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
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