Blue skies and snowy mountains welcomed the first operational Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A Lightning II during an arrival ceremony at Misawa Air Base, Jan. 26.

A Defense Contract Management Agency government flight representative landed the first Japanese-made F-35A on Misawa AB's runway, Nov. 2.

While all aircraft carrier pilots have a need for speed when getting airborne from the ship, F-35C test fliers were out to prove how slow they could go during flights earlier this month off CVN 69 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower off the Virginia coast.

Lockheed Martin hosted an F-35 Lightning II cockpit demonstration simulation Sept. 24 through 26 at Misawa Air Base, Japan.