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F-35B Lightnings from @USMC have arrived onboard! The jets, from VMX-1 based at MCAS Yuma, are conducting 'fly to' operations for the next two weeks. Their pilots are undergoing CQ, 'Carrier Qualification', before exercising pairs sorties with our own UK Lightnings #WESTLANT19
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Here's a sight we will enjoy getting used to; @USMC F-35B engineers, maintainers and other support crew have been dropped onboard by USMC CH-53 Sea Stallion. They will soon bring out their own Lightnings for flying trials alongside UK jets #WESTLANT19 @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce
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Enjoy this fantastic shot by Leading Photographer Kyle Heller, Royal Navy #WESTLANT19 @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce @OC617Sqn @17SqnRAF #QNLZatSea #UKF35
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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
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Tune in to BBC2 at 2000 (UK) this Sunday to see the first of the three-part series, 'Britain's Biggest Warship Goes to Sea' by award-winning producer/director @ChrisTerrill. The programme follows us during first of class flight trials with F-35B during #WESTLANT18 #QNLZatSea twitter.com/NavyLookout/st…
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The operational test tempo continues to build here at #WESTLANT19 as we launch and recover pairs of UK Lightnings, within seconds of each other. This enables us to generate sorties at a much faster rate. @RoyalNavy @RoyalAirForce @17SqnRAF @OC617Sqn @RAF_Marham #FlyNavy #UKF35
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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
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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
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Few can lay claim to having an 'office' as cool as the one this @RoyalNavy F-35 pilot is snapped walking away from here today. Kudos too though to the hundreds of engineers, mechanics and scientists we have onboard, who keep these tremendous aircraft flying #FlyNavy #WESTLANT19
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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…
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It has been an incredibly busy period for the #WESTLANT19 Carrier Strike Group, since we left the UK in August. Here is a video by Leading Photographer Dan Shepherd, summarising what we have achieved so far. Keep coming back to see what excitement is still to come! ⚡️ #QNLZatSea
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We suddenly have a lot of people wearing these roaming the decks (mostly looking a bit lost....) what could this possibly mean??? #WESTLANT19 #UKF35 #bigdecksfastjets @OC617Sqn @RAF_Marham @17SqnRAF
⚡️ is forecast.......
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The #WESTLANT19 units are together for the first time! 👋🏼 @HMSNORT joining from @NATO group exercise in 🇨🇦 & goodbye for now @HMSDragon off to train with @TheCVN69 CSG @USNavy. The flexibility of 🇬🇧🇺🇸 individual & combined CSG capabilities proving to be a force multiplier ⚓️
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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
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🇬🇧🇺🇸⚓️relationship goes from strength to strength as the #WESTLANT19 units are honoured to host trailblazing US naval aviator, RAdm Sara Joyner USN, Commander CSG2. As the first woman to command a Naval Fighter Squadron and a Carrier Air Wing, Ma'am, we salute you! @USNavy
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I spy with my little eye, a 🐉 #breathingfire into #WESTLANT19! Welcome to the Strike Group @HMSDragon 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
@HMSNORT @RFATideforce @CdrBobBond @RNASCuldrose @RNASYeovilton @42_commando
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🇬🇧 Soft Power
🇬🇧 Hard Power
Both whilst seamlessly working with our closest ally 🇺🇸
What a truly brilliant time to be part of the UK Armed Forces.
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Today and tomorrow will see sailors and marines leave family homes where most will not return for months.
You won't notice them, no fanfare or outpouring of emotion will attract your attention.
It is what it is, and we do what we do.
#AsOne #family #Westlant19
#LetsGo
The @RoyalNavy's flagship and first Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. ⚓️🇬🇧