Page 70 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

UK carrier strike

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1: Four F-35Bs tucked inside the hangar deck aboard the HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’, which is able to
accommodate up to 20 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. 2: BK-14 and 17 up on deck in some of the

inclement weather that was a feature of the early part of WESTLANT 19. 3: Lt Cdr Matt Fooks-Bale

accelerates down the deck in BK-17 for the first F-35B take-off during WESTLANT 19. 4: RN fleet
commander V Adm Jerry Kyd with RAF Deputy Commander Operations AM Gerry Mayhew. 5: Lt Cdr
Matt Fooks-Bale is one of the Royal Navy pilots involved in WESTLANT 19. 6: Images were released
of at least one F-35B fitted with four Paveway IVs and two AIM-132 ASRAAMs (Advanced Short-

Range Air-to-Air Missiles) on external hardpoints. 7: Gp Capt Jim Beck, former Officer Commanding
No 17 TES and now Station Commander at RAF Marham. Jamie Hunter

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68 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

66-69 Westland AFM Dec2019.indd 68 08/11/2019 15:35:51