It may not be the prettiest photo, but it's the first known image of all three F-35 variants in the same frame. That's the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A in the foreground, the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B on the left and the carrier variant (CV) F-35C in the background. If you're a casual observer trying to identify the different variants, here's a quick cheat sheet:
1. In this case, the F-35A bears markings for Eglin AFB's 33rd Fighter Wing, an easy give-away
2. The F-35C is the only variant with two wheels on the nose gear, the tell-tale sign of any carrier-based aircraft
3. The F-35C also has a detectable vertical crease slightly outboard of the wing mid-point. This is where the wings fold. It's hard to tell from this photo, but the F-35C wings are much larger than the other two variants
4. The F-35A is the only variant with a small hump on the shoulder of the left wing. You can't see that wing in this photo, but the left wing of the F-35C is clean
5. The F-35B is an easy mark. The outlines of its "'57 Chevy" lift fan cover are clearly visible immediately aft of the cockpit dome
If the experts have any more spotter tips, please share.
(h/t: Invisible Defender)
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