Catch a glimpse of the future over west Norfolk skies
Ministry of Defence handout photo of the first of Britains new supersonic stealth strike fighters (left) after it touched down in the UK for the first time at FAR Fairford. Photo credit should read: Sgt Pete George MA/PA Wire - Credit: PA
People in west Norfolk will get a glimpse into the future, when the F-35B Lightning II jet makes its first flypast over RAF Marham - which will be its future home from summer 2018 - today.
The first of Britain's new supersonic 'stealth' strike fighters touched down in the UK for the first time at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
It was flown by RAF pilot Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols on its first transatlantic crossing, accompanied by two United States Marine Corps F-35B aircraft from their training base at Beaufort, South Carolina.
The jet will take to the skies at the Air Tattoo show at RAF Fairford, from July 8-10, before being flown back to the US.
An RAF Marham spokesman said: 'We're really excited to get this opportunity to see the jet over RAF Marham, and get a glimpse into the future.'
In preparation for the jet's arrival at the airbase in 2018, work on £300m of infrastructure improvements is ongoing with a brand new training centre and a maintenance hangar being built, to ensure both plane and pilot are fit for the job. As well as the building work, 90pc of the runways are being replaced in preparation.
The stealth ability of the F35, which allows it to avoid detection on radar, will mean pilots will be able to fly in dangerous areas they have previously been unable to.
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Much of RAF Marham is still as it was when it was built up in 1935 ahead of the Second World War.
Flight crews from the base continue to take the fight to ISIS/Daesh in the Middle East.
