US Navy Reconstitutes Fighter Attack Squadron 101 (VFA-101) "Grim Reapers" with F-35C
 
Tuesday, the U.S. Navy and the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., officially reconstituted the highly decorated VFA-101 Grim Reapers Squadron during ceremonies held on the Emerald Coast.
Tuesday, the U.S. Navy and the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., officially reconstituted the highly decorated VFA-101 Grim Reapers Squadron during ceremonies held on the Emerald Coast.
 
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Naval Forces News - USA
 
 
 
US Navy Reconstitutes Fighter Attack Squadron 101 (VFA-101) "Grim Reapers" with F-35C
 
Tuesday, the U.S. Navy and the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., officially reconstituted the highly decorated VFA-101 Grim Reapers Squadron during ceremonies held on the Emerald Coast.
     
Tuesday, the U.S. Navy and the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., officially reconstituted the highly decorated VFA-101 Grim Reapers Squadron during ceremonies held on the Emerald Coast.
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (Oct. 1, 2013) The official party stands at attention during the rollout ceremony for the U.S. Navy's first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft squadron the Grim Reapers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin by Angel DelCueto/Released)
     
VFA-101 will fly the Navy’s newest aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II carrier variant, to perform the mission of training pilots and sailors to fly and service the aircraft fleet. The speakers challenged the Grim Reapers to prepare sailors to fly and maintain the F-35C safely at sea, where its stealth, sensors and communication systems will make the entire carrier strike group more effective. The U.S. Navy’s F-35C Initial Operating Capability is scheduled for 2019.
     
Tuesday, the U.S. Navy and the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., officially reconstituted the highly decorated VFA-101 Grim Reapers Squadron during ceremonies held on the Emerald Coast.
F-35C with Fighter Attack Squadron 101 (VFA-101) "Grim Reapers" High Visibility Scheme
(Picture: Lockheed Martin)
     
“The F-35C brings a broad range of force packages to the Navy fleet – capitalizing on the integration of advanced mission systems, stealth technology and supersonic capabilities,” said Lorraine Martin, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the F-35 Program “The F-35C will enhance the flexibility, power projection, and rapid response of carrier air wings and joint task forces for decades to come.”
     
The Indian Navy successfully tested on Wednesday a highly-maneuverable version of a sea-based Brahmos supersonic cruise missile, an Indian defense source told RIA Novosti.
The original Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101), nicknamed Grim Reapers, was established 1 May 1952 and flew various fighter aircraft including the F-4 Phantom and F-14 Tomcat.
Picture: US Navy
     
The original Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101), nicknamed Grim Reapers, was established 1 May 1952 and flew various fighter aircraft including the F-4 Phantom and F-14 Tomcat. VF-101 was disestablished in 2005. To support the Navy version of the F-35, VFA-101 was reestablished in May 2012 at a new hangar and training facility at Eglin. The unit will serve as the Fleet Replacement Squadron, training Navy Lightning II aviators and maintainers.