According to the Air Force, captain Emily Thompson is the first woman to fly the combat jet, F-35A Lightning II, into a war battle.
The Air Force has not yet revealed the details of the mission however, the official photographs show Emily at the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
Sgt. Kat Justen
Speaking about the esteemed rank of being a fighter jet pilot, Emily said it is an honor for her to fly an F-35A as the first woman to pilot it. She also acknowledges other female colleagues as she said there were other women flying other kinds of jets before me and there will be more after me as well in other platforms.
However, to pilot this kind of a jet is a huge honor for me.
When asked about her life dreams, Thompson said my regular childhood dreams were to become a police officer or a veterinarian. From there, I grew up and wanted to become an aerospace engineer. With a degree in Aerospace Engineering, I delve into flying.
Emily has one and a half years of training in flying F-16 after which she went for F-35A Lightning II. She believes there are a lot of supporting people out there if you want to be a female pilot. You just have to struggle for it and stay positive.
Since the Air Force did not disclose any kind of detail on the assignment these pilots were designated, it is however evident from a press release from Hill Air Force Base that some F-35A was deployed to the Middle East amidst the tension with Iran.
The F-35A Lightning II is one of the most expensive and powerful war weapons the Pentagon has bought. The particular features of this powerhouse aren’t made public yet, however, it is rumored that the F-35a Lightning II has the potential to bypass a radar.