avia.wikisort.org - Air_Forces

The 117 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the First Jet Squadron, is a training squadron for F-35I 'Adir' fighter pilots, based at Nevatim Airbase.[1]

117 Squadron
First Jet Squadron
Active	1953-2020; 2021-
Disbanded	September 2020 - as active Air Defense squadron; reestablished July 2021 as training squadron
Country	Israel
Branch	Israeli Air Force
Role	F-35I training (2021-); Air Defense (1953-2020)
Garrison/HQ	Nevatim Airbase (2021-); Ramat David Airbase (1953-2020)
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F-35I (current); F-16C (previous); Gloster Meteor (first)

Before it closed in September 2020 after 67 years of service,[1] the 117th was an F-16C fighter squadron based at Ramat David Airbase.[2] The squadron operated Israel's first jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor, flying the T7, F8 and FR9 variants.[3]

On 6 July 2021, Airforce Technology reported that the Israeli Air Force had re-established the 117th First Jet Squadron as a training squadron in the IAF’s F-35I ‘Adir’ division, and that it was to be based at Nevatim airbase in the Negev. Initially, the squadron would focus on training IAF pilots to operate the F-35I. The course would help pilots get accustomed to the aircraft’s parts and systems, and perform simulator flights, ground drills, and training sorties. It would also serve as a training center for the operational squadrons of the Adir Division.[1]

References

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