F-35B Lightning II
Coverage of F-35B Lightning II in the Nexus archive.
- Military jet crashes and burns at California Marine Corps base
A F-35B Lightning II fighter jet crashed and caught fire at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, with the pilot ejecting and being recovered. Fire crews extinguished a grass fire near the wreckage, which is operated by the US Marines, the United Kingdom, and the Italian Air Force and costs $102 million each.
- A Marine who flew the F/A-18, F-16, F-22, and F-35 says one jet stood apart
Dave Berke, a Marine Corps fighter pilot, flew the F/A-18, F-16, F-22, and F-35, with the F-22 Raptor standing out for its maneuverability and stealth. He emphasized the Raptor's unique capabilities and described it as unmatched in modern warfare.
- How Top Gun fighter pilots actually work, according to a former instructor
Dave Berke, a US Marine Corps fighter pilot and Top Gun instructor, discusses the realities of carrier-based aviation and combat operations. He served as an F-35B instructor and flew missions in Iraq, and now teaches leadership at Echelon Front. US aircraft carriers conducted combat missions in Venezuela, Iran, and Yemen in 2026.