{"id":158722,"date":"2026-09-25T03:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T21:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=158722"},"modified":"2026-09-25T02:50:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T21:20:32","slug":"canada-first-f-35a-takes-flight-in-major-fighter-jet-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/25\/canada-first-f-35a-takes-flight-in-major-fighter-jet-milestone\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada\u2019s 1st Most Advanced Fighter Jet in the World Operates First Flight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

OTTAWA-<\/strong> The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF)<\/a> first F-35A Lightning II has completed its maiden flight at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth (FWH), Fort Worth, Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft, construction number AR-1, flew for the first time on September 23, 2026, and will enter Canadian service as the CF-35A. The flight marks a major production milestone for Canada’s program to replace its CF-188 Hornet fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Canada\u2019s
Photo: Lockheed Martin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First Canadian F-35A Takes to Air<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Canada\u2019s first F-35A Lightning II<\/a> completed its maiden flight from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas, where Lockheed Martin produces the aircraft. The flight began at about 12:00 PM local time on September 23, 2026, and an F-35C accompanied the Canadian aircraft as a safety chase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flight lasted about 90 minutes. Photographer Tori Mae Fontana documented the aircraft on landing, while Gherardo and Victoria Fontana provided photographs used in the report. The Aviationist reported the flight and published the accompanying images from the maiden sortie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction number AR-1 identifies the aircraft as the first Canadian F-35A produced under the program. Although the aircraft is known as the F-35A during production, Canada plans to designate it the CF-35A once it enters Royal Canadian Air Force service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft had already received its full Canadian markings before its first flight. The markings follow elements associated with the RCAF’s existing CF-188 Hornet fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exterior of the engine intakes carries the bilingual RCAF-ARC designation for Royal Canadian Air Force and Aviation royale canadienne. The Canadian roundel is positioned alongside the markings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Came back from military training in South Carolina with a couple of days off, and my three-year-old daughter had one thing on her mind: go take photos of airplanes with Dad.

So, we headed up to the base, cameras in hand, and ended up getting incredibly lucky.

Here it is,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Gat7uAUi8W<\/a><\/p>— Eric Kilpatrick (@KpAviationPhoto) September 23, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>