HonorNCourage57 Loc: Born in Louisiana!!!living in Burien, Washing

This Is the Marine Corps' 1st Female F-35B Fighter Pilot
15 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins

Twenty-four years after the Marine Corps got its first female aviator, another woman pilot is making history.

Capt. Anneliese Satz is the Marine Corps' first-ever female F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter jet pilot. The 29-year-old from Boise, Idaho, has spent the past four years training as a naval aviator.

Now, she's cleared to operate the cutting-edge fifth-generation stealth, supersonic fighter aircraft in combat. She's the first woman to complete the F-35B Basic Course, designed specifically for the Marine Corps variant of the fighter jet. The F-35B can take off and land vertically from amphibious assault ship flight decks and austere locations with little runway space.

Satz is joining the "Green Knights" with the Japan-based Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121. VMFA-121 was the first F-35B squadron to complete an operational deployment with a Marine expeditionary unit aboard a Navy ship.

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Satz recalled the first time she took off in the Joint Strike Fighter in a Marine Corps news release announcing her career milestone.

"The first flight in an F-35 is by yourself," she said. "... It's an exhilarating experience."
Capt. Anneliese Satz conducts pre-flight checks prior to a training flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, on March 11, 2019. Satz graduated the F-35B Lighting II Pilot Training Program in June and will be assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 in Iwakuni, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ashley Phillips)
Capt. Anneliese Satz conducts pre-flight checks prior to a training flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, on March 11, 2019. Satz graduated the F-35B Lighting II Pilot Training Program in June and will be assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 in Iwakuni, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ashley Phillips)

Satz was licensed to fly the single-engine Robinson R44 light helicopter before joining the Marine Corps. Since switching to fixed wing, she's flown the T-6 Texan II tandem-seat, turboprop trainer and the T-45C Goshawk carrier capable jet trainer, which prepares naval aviators for tactical missions.

She then joined Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, where she trained to fly the military's newest fighter jet. Showing up and working hard are what allowed her to succeed, she said in the release.

Satz also credited the instructors, maintainers and other members of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 for helping her complete the F-35B Basic Course.
Capt. Anneliese Satz connects an air hose to her flight suit aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, on March 11. Satz graduated the F-35B Lighting II Pilot Training Program in June and will be assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 in Iwakuni, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ashley Phillips)
Capt. Anneliese Satz connects an air hose to her flight suit aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, on March 11. Satz graduated the F-35B Lighting II Pilot Training Program in June and will be assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 in Iwakuni, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ashley Phillips)

"This is a phenomenal program made possible by all of their hard work," she said in a Marine Corps news release. "I am thankful to have had the opportunity to learn from all of them. I am incredibly excited to get to VMFA-121 and look forward to the opportunity to serve in the Fleet Marine Forces."

Earlier this week, another female Marine aviator made history when she became the first woman selected to fly the Corps' other Joint Strike Fighter variant -- the F-35C.

First Lt. Catherine Stark will join the Navy's fleet replacement squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron 125, where she'll fly the F-35 variant designed for carrier operations.

Female Marines have been able to fly only since 1993 when the service opened pilot positions to women. Then-2nd Lt. Sarah Deal, a CH-53E heavy-lift helicopter pilot, became the Marine Corps' first female aviator in 1995. And Capt. Vernice Armour, an AH-1W Cobra pilot, became the service's first black female pilot in 2001.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.
Related Topics
Military Headlines Marine Corps Topics Women in the Military Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort F-35 Lightning II - Joint Strike Fighter
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RIGHT ON!!!! GOOD NEWS!!!. I am so Proud of this Brave and Honorable Women!!!!! Full !!!! Speed Ahead!!! Girl !!!!! Now what do Y'all think?

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

BAM

Good for her.

Rose42

I’m not too enthused about women doing this but kudos to her for achieving it.

HonorNCourage57 Loc: Born in Louisiana!!!living in Burien, Washing

RIGHT ON!!!!!! slatten49!!

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Add a tip of my USMC cover to you and all nurses/corpsmen for your service to our troops

Larai Loc: Fallon, NV

Excellent News!! Bravo!!!

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Capt. Anneliese Satz


HOOYAH!

PLT Sarge Loc: Alabama

All I can say, is go girl!!!

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Good to see you posting, Sarge.

Cuda2020

I think "You Go Girl!" and more power to her and all who follow in her footsteps.

badbobby Loc: texas

flying bams?
guess they have proved that they can do it



I wonder if females can stand G-forces as well as males
mayhaps they can top the males?

Lt. Rob Polans ret.

She makes me proud and happy.

Cuda2020

is already been proven women can tolerate G-force better. Isreal has been using women for a while now and not just as pilots. Our male ego has gotten in our way for some time.

Rose42

I read a study that said they were about the same for handling G forces.

Israeli women are much harder than American women generally - out of necessity.

Larai Loc: Fallon, NV

Yes... The last I remember, regarding Israel, it was mandatory, out of necessity to join the military, I just can't remember how long, 2 or 4 years...and that meant everyone.. I'm also not sure, but I think they would even accept someone mildly disabled .. clerical or coding & communication... I tried to join when I was 20, I got as far as the physical, had already taken the ASVAB, I'm 4 F... born w/out a thyroid gland...kinda sucked, I scored highest in the coding & communication.. But I think our military is wasting folks that would love to serve their country, I Applaud this young lady!! Bravo to her! and All the women out there doing sooo awesome for the people of this country.. Honestly, I don't think it G force is that much different for women than men..