1/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Chris Baker with the Million dollar flight helmet. Picture: Nathan Edwards
Next Gen Aussie fighter pilots in high-tech “Iron Man” helmets
GALLERY: These are the incredible exclusive photos by News Corp photographer Nathan Edwards taking you inside America’s Top Gun fighter training school to see Australia’s elite RAAF pilots learn how to fly the next generation F-35 fighter jets.
2/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (R) and Flight Lieutenant “Damo”. Picture: Nathan Edwards
3/76F35 fighter jets Luke Airforce base in Phoenix Arizona Picture: Nathan Edwards
4/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
5/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (R) and Flight Lieutenant “Damo” (real names not used for security reasons). Picture: Nathan Edwards
6/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (L) and Squadron Leader “Jacko” on the flight line before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
7/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Picture: Nathan Edwards
8/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Lieutenant Damo before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
9/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Chris Baker with the Million dollar flight helmet. Picture: Nathan Edwards
10/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Chris Baker with the Million dollar flight helmet. Picture: Nathan Edwards
11/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Corp Lorna Hill, RAAF maintenance ground crew. Picture: Nathan Edwards
12/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
13/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader Wing Commander Darren Clare prepares for a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
14/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader call sign “Jacko” prepares for a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
15/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (L) briefs Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
16/76F35 fighter jets Luke Airforce base in Phoenix Arizona Picture: Nathan Edwards
17/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader “Jacko” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
18/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader “Jacko” (R) before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
19/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (L) briefs Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
20/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (L) briefs Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
21/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare gives a pre flight briefing. Picture: Nathan Edwards
22/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare gives a pre flight briefing. Picture: Nathan Edwards
23/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Lieutenant call sign “Damo” prepares for a flight. (real names not used for security reasons). Picture: Nathan Edwards
24/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. (LtR) Squadron Leader Wing Commander Darren Clare, Squadron Leader “Jacko”, Lieutenant colonel Rhett Hierlmeier (US Air Force) prepare for a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
25/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” talks to RAAF Corp Lorna Hill who is part of the maintenance and ground crew team before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
26/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
27/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” talks to RAAF Corp Lorna Hill who is part of the maintenance and ground crew team before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
28/76F35 fighter jets Luke Airforce base in Phoenix Arizona Picture: Nathan Edwards
29/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (R) speaks with US Air Force Lieutenant colonel Rhett “Hero” Hierlmeier. Picture: Nathan Edwards
30/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader Wing Commander Darren Clare prepares for a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
31/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader Chris Myles. Picture: Nathan Edwards
32/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader Wing Commander Darren Clare prepares for a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
33/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader Wing Commander Darren Clare prepares for a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
34/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Picture: Nathan Edwards
35/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader call sign prepares for a flight. (real names not used for security reasons) Picture: Nathan Edwards
36/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader (far left) before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
37/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader (L) before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
38/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (R) and Squadron Leader on the flight line before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
39/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare before wheels up. Picture: Nathan Edwards
40/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Australian RAAF maintenance crews working with the Australian jets on the flight line.. Picture: Nathan Edwards
41/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Sergeant Damian Gardner, RAAF maintenance crew . Picture: Nathan Edwards
42/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Corp Lorna Hill, RAAF maintenance ground crew . Picture: Nathan Edwards
43/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare . Picture: Nathan Edwards
44/76F35 fighter jets Luke Airforce base in Phoenix Arizona Picture: Nathan Edwards
45/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
46/76F35 fighter jets Luke Airforce base in Phoenix Arizona Picture: Nathan Edwards
47/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
48/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
49/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
50/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” talks to RAAF Corp Lorna Hill who is part of the maintenance and ground crew team before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
51/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
52/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader call sign “Belly” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
53/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader “Jacko” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
54/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader “Jacko” before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
55/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare . Picture: Nathan Edwards
56/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader “Jacko” (far left) before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
57/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron Leader “Jacko” (far left) before a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
58/76F35 fighter jets Luke Airforce base in Phoenix Arizona Picture: Nathan Edwards
59/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare . Picture: Nathan Edwards
60/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. (LtR) Squadron Leader Wing Commander Darren Clare, Squadron Leader “Jacko”, Lieutenant colonel Rhett “Hero” Hierlmeier (US Air Force) and Flight Lieutenant “Damo” prepare for a flight. Picture: Nathan Edwards
61/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (R) and Flight Lieutenant “Damo”. Picture: Nathan Edwards
62/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (L) briefs Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
63/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Picture: Nathan Edwards
64/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare (L) briefs Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
65/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
66/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
67/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
68/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
69/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Lieutenant “Damo” before a flight . Picture: Nathan Edwards
70/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Flight Sergeant Damian Gardner, RAAF maintenance crew . Picture: Nathan Edwards
71/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. RAAF WOFF Guy Erba leads the RAAF maintenance crew . Picture: Nathan Edwards
72/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. RAAF WOFF Guy Erba leads the RAAF maintenance crew . Picture: Nathan Edwards
73/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. The Australian jets in action. Picture: Nathan Edwards
74/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare before wheels up. Picture: Nathan Edwards
75/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. The Australian jets in action. Picture: Nathan Edwards
76/76Australian Pilots training in the F35 fighter Jets Luke Airforce Base in Phoenix Arizona. Squadron leader Wing Commander Darren Clare before wheels up. Picture: Nathan Edwards
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