1
Are you feeling the need - the need for speed?! Here is the first 🇬🇧⚡️takeoff in real time, as requested by so many of you. Enjoy! #WESTLANT19 #QNLZatSea #bigdecksfastjets #FlyNavy @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce @OC617Sqn @17SqnRAF
2
Due to popular demand, video of the first 🇬🇧⚡️takeoff! Disclaimer: this video has been slowed down; F-35 moves significantly faster in real time!! Flown by Lt Cdr Matt Fooks-Bale RN #WESTLANT19 #flynavy #bigdecksfastjets @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce @RAF_Marham @17SqnRAF
3
What a beautiful morning for our entry. It’s hard to believe just weeks ago we were flying #UKF35 from these decks for the very first time. Home is in clear view 👀 #WESTLANT19
4
Now this is the way to travel to work! What a fantastic viewpoint of the ship - what you can’t see is the queue of excited matelots wanting to have a go! From one type of jet #UKF35 to another @takeonGravity #WESTLANT19
5
We have flown our first #UKF35 multi-ship, launching 4 jets in quick succession and recovering on completion of their ‘mission’. Absolutely awe inspiring to watch, hear and feel! #WESTLANT19 @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce @17SqnRAF @OC617Sqn
6
Anyone still ❓ our legitimacy as an aircraft carrier?🤔 Peek into our hangar - this cavernous space suddenly feels a bit cramped! Still plenty of room for more but this gives you an idea of scale when 4 ⚡️& 5 🚁 were put to bed last night #WESTLANT19 @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce
7
Someone needed to leave the ship in a hurry! We do have seaboats you know @takeonGravity #WESTLANT19
8
UK Lightning in 'Beast' mode onboard the future Fleet Flagship - a defining moment on the road to operational Carrier Strike capability. Up to 22,000 lbs of firepower; inert Paveway laser-guided bombs and ASRAAM air-to-air missiles. We wouldn't mess with it either #WESTLANT19
9
Not looking at all out of place amongst the @USNavy carrier cousins at Norfolk Naval Station! #WESTLANT19
10
History continuing to be made here on #WESTLANT19 - the first ever take off by a UK Lightning from our British carrier. @RAF_Marham even brought the weather with them! We ❤️the 🇬🇧 on the 'scoop' @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce @17SqnRAF #FlyNavy #bigdecksfastjets #QNLZatSea #UKF35
11
It's a very special thing for Service personnel to mark the Armistice, and honour the fallen, whilst on deployment. LPhot Dan Shepherd captured today's ceremony on video, to give you the opportunity to share it with us. #WeWillRememberThem #WESTLANT19 #QNLZatSea @PoppyLegion
12
We will never get bored of seeing these on our decks. Look at those skies....I hear rumbling....could even more ⚡️ be forecast for #WESTLANT19 today? 🤔@RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce @17SqnRAF @OC617Sqn #UKF35 #QNLZatSea #bigdecksfastjets
13
A huge day for all of us here at #WESTLANT19, and the nation, as we landed on UK F35 Lightnings for the very first time. Here is to the start of 50 years of this incredible joint capability for UK Defence @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce #UKF35 #bigdecksfastjets twitter.com/DefenceHQ/stat…
14
Welcome to the Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group, USS Philippine Sea and USS Truxtun @USNavy. The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer have joined us as #UKF35 jet trials continue in the USA #WESTLANT19 #jointcapability @RoyalNavy
15
How could we not share this shot of this thing of beauty?! Qualifying MV-22 Osprey to land on our decks in both day and night gives us so much more flexibility. Great skills @USNavy Did you know that RN phots aren't allowed to photoshop their images, BTW? Just saying! #WESTLANT19
16
11 years between these pictures; the RN has today again launched a jet from a carrier whilst replenishing at sea. This force-multiplier shows the Service's transformation in that time; Invincible to QE class, Wave to Tide class and Harrier to Lightning #WESTLANT19 #backinthegame
17
Two more UK Lightnings have landed onboard, as Operational Tests by @17SqnRAF and @OC617Sqn continue. The deck is getting busier and louder with six 🇬🇧⚡️ now embarked, #WESTLANT19 is just a taste of what is to come. @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce #bigdecksfastjets #FlyNavy #QNLZatSea
18
📷 We hope you have enjoyed the photography the team has captured during #WESTLANT19. Leading Phot Dan Shepherd has picked out his favourite 4 – do you agree?
19
Our #UKF35 Lightning’s have flown their carrier nest - marking the end of this historic phase of #WESTLANT19 operational tests. If you like this teaser, click here youtu.be/wXmnnFcGVSE for the full video, and come back here to tell us what you think! @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce
20
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, #WeWillRememberThem.
Wherever in the World we serve #WESTLANT19
@PoppyLegion @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce @BritishArmy
21
Here are some more of today's very welcome new additions to #WESTLANT19 ; @USMC and their #F35 Lightnings onboard - that's two VMX-1 pilots already daytime carrier qualified 👊🏼 And yes, there will soon be video! #QNLZatSea #bigdecksfastjets @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce
22
Want to see a busy flightdeck? Enjoy this great video by Leading Photographer Dan Shepherd, of @USMC #F35 pilots from VMX-1 carrier qualifying on our deck. Preparations for our first operational deployment with 🇬🇧& 🇺🇸Lightnings embarked in 2021 are in full swing #WESTLANT19
23
Our most frequently asked question, since starting trials with UK F-35, is: "what is that open door?" AKA the 'scoop' or 'toilet seat', the Upper Lift Fan Door is explained by one of our embarked F-35 pilots, Wing Cdr Adam Curd RAF #WESTLANT19 @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce #UKF35
24
Possibly the most photographed man on our deck - Flight Deck Officer (FDO), Lt Cdr Richie Turrell busts more moves launching a @USMC F-35. If you want to ask Richie a deck-related question, please post below. He will answer as many as he can over the coming few days #WESTLANT19
25
We are currently off beautiful Weymouth Bay, onloading family under the PACAS scheme - Parents & Children at Sea. This gives our loved ones the unique chance to sail into port with us tomorrow #WESTLANT19 #itsafamilyaffair
