Training / B-Courses / vACC / F-35A Lightning II

B-Course vACC 388th FW · Hill AFB 104th FW · Barnes ANGB IFE / MSFS 2024

F-35A Lightning II

Initial Qualification Course — 5th Generation Multirole

This course qualifies pilots to operate the F-35A Lightning II within vACC using the IndiaFoxtEcho (IFE) simulation platform in MSFS 2024. Eight lessons cover the aircraft's unique 5th-generation systems — sensor fusion, EOTS, APG-81 radar, internal weapons, and stealth considerations — alongside standard flight, formation, BFM, and advanced ops.

Single Engine — F135-PW-100 · 43,000 lbs A/B Max Speed — Mach 1.6 Internal Fuel — ~18,500 lbs APG-81 AESA · EOTS · DAS — Sensor Fusion Internal Weapons Bay — Stealth Configuration

B-Course — Not VSOA. Completion authorizes F-35A operations under the 388th FW/vACC. Does not affect VATSIM qualification status.

Course Structure — 7 Lessons

Foundation

Lessons 1–3

Aircraft fam & startup, cockpit/sensor systems mastery, takeoff and pattern work.

Combat

Lessons 4–5

BFM/DACT & A/A employment, air-to-ground with EOTS and internal weapons.

Advanced Ops

Lessons 6–7

Cross-country, AAR, stealth mission planning, NVG night flying.

Foundation

Lessons 1–3: Foundation Block

Aircraft Familiarization, Stealth Overview & Startup

Learn the F-35A's unique 5th-generation design philosophy, core specifications, stealth principles, fuel system, and IFE MSFS startup procedure. Unlike legacy fighters, the F-35's capabilities are built around information dominance — understand the platform before flying it.

Aircraft Overview

•Engine: Single P&W F135-PW-100 — 43,000 lbs thrust (A/B)
•Max Speed: Mach 1.6 (supersonic dash only)
•G Limit: +9g sustained
•Ceiling: 50,000 ft
•Combat Radius: ~670 NM (internal fuel, hi-lo-hi)
•Ferry Range: ~1,380 NM (internal only)
•MTOW: ~70,000 lbs

Core Systems

•APG-81 AESA: Active electronically scanned array radar
•EOTS: Electro-Optical Targeting System — built-in FLIR/laser under nose
•DAS: Distributed Aperture System — 360° IR cameras fused to helmet
•HMDS: Helmet Mounted Display — weapon cueing, DAS feed
•EW Suite: AN/ASQ-239 — integrated electronic warfare
•Fusion: All sensors merged into one tactical picture

Stealth — How It Works & What Breaks It

Stealth is achieved by:

✓ Airframe shaping — angled surfaces deflect radar energy
✓ RAM (Radar Absorbing Material) coatings
✓ Internal weapons bays — no external pylons
✓ Inlet shaping hides engine face from radar
✓ LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) radar waveforms

Stealth is degraded by:

✗ External weapons/fuel tanks on wing pylons
✗ Open weapons bay doors (brief — fire and close)
✗ Damaged RAM coatings
✗ High-power radar emissions (EMCON tradeoff)
✗ Very low frequency (VLF) radars — some penetrate stealth

CONCEPT: The F-35's RCS is approximately 0.001 m² (stealth config) vs ~5 m² for an F-16. This means an enemy radar detects the F-35 at roughly 1/7th the range it would detect an F-16. Internal weapons are not optional — they are mission-critical for stealth effectiveness.

Fuel — Capacity & Burn Rates

Internal (stealth)

~18,500 lbs

480-gal tanks ×2 (non-stealth)

+6,400 lbs

Cruise (M0.8 / 30k)

~5,500 lbs/hr

Full Afterburner

~35,000+ lbs/hr

JOKERMission-dependent — brief prior to flight. Typically ~4,000–5,000 lbs. Begin RTB planning and declare to flight.

BINGOMission-dependent — typically ~2,500–3,000 lbs. RTB immediately. Declare emergency if required.

IFE MSFS Startup Procedure

The IFE F-35A startup is more automated than legacy fighters. The aircraft's mission systems initialize in sequence — do not rush through steps or system initialization errors will occur.

1Battery switch → ON. Essential bus powers; cockpit displays begin initialization.
2APU → START. Wait for APU to reach operating RPM. Generator comes online.
3Engine Start → ENG START switch. Throttle to IDLE when prompted. Monitor EGT and RPM — normal idle ~20–25% N2.
4Avionics / Mission Systems → ON. PTD (Panoramic Touchscreen Display) and upper display initialize. Mission computer boots (~60–90 sec).
5EOTS → ON. Verify EOTS display available on PTD. Self-test completes in ~30 sec.
6APG-81 Radar → STBY. Warm-up in STBY until taxi — do not radiate unnecessarily on ground (EMCON).
7CNI (Comms/Nav/IFF) → Configure. Set radios, Nav source, IFF codes on PTD.
8SMS (Stores Management) → Check. Verify weapon bay load and fuze status. Exterior lights ON. System ready — taxi when cleared.

IFE NOTE: The IFE F-35A in MSFS models the startup sequence with varying levels of fidelity depending on version. Follow the in-sim checklist as the primary reference — use this lesson's procedure as a framework to understand what each step accomplishes and why.

Graded Items: Core system identification (APG-81, EOTS, DAS), stealth degradation factors, fuel Joker/Bingo callout, startup sequence completion without IP prompting, all displays initialized at taxi-ready.

Cockpit Mastery — PTD, Sensor Fusion & DAS/EOTS

The F-35's cockpit is built around the Panoramic Touchscreen Display (PTD) and information fusion. Before the first flight, understand how to navigate the PTD, interpret the fused tactical picture, and operate EOTS and DAS in the IFE simulation. Weapon proficiency is secondary to display mastery.

Panoramic Touchscreen Display (PTD) — 20"×8"

The PTD is the primary interface for all F-35 systems. It replaces the rows of dedicated gauges found in legacy fighters. In the IFE model, touchscreen interaction is simulated via mouse clicks.

Primary Flight

• Attitude indicator (synthetic)
• Airspeed / altitude / VSI
• Engine data (RPM, EGT, fuel)
• Gear / flap state

Tactical / Sensors

• Fused air/ground picture
• APG-81 radar display
• EOTS (FLIR / TV video)
• DAS imagery

Systems / Mission

• SMS (weapons/stores)
• CNI (comms/nav/IFF)
• EW status display
• Checklists / BIT

TIP: Spend dedicated ground time learning PTD navigation before your first flight. In the IFE model, practice switching between pages and configuring sensors on the ramp — not for the first time under IP evaluation.

Sensor Fusion — The F-35's Core Advantage

The fusion engine combines inputs from all onboard sensors into a single coherent tactical picture. The pilot sees one merged view — not separate radar, EO, and EW windows. This eliminates the cognitive load of correlating multiple data streams common in legacy fighters.

APG-81 Input

Range, bearing, altitude, velocity of air/ground contacts. LPI waveforms minimize detection by enemy EW systems.

EOTS Input

Forward-looking IR imagery, laser spot location, target identity and geo-coordinates fed directly to weapons guidance.

DAS Input

360° IR coverage. Missile launch detection. Air and ground contacts from any bearing — feeds HMDS with threat cueing.

EOTS Operation (IFE MSFS)

The EOTS is permanently mounted under the nose — it replaces the external SNIPER/LANTIRN pod used on legacy fighters. In the IFE model, EOTS is accessed via the PTD EOTS page.

EOTS Modes

• FLIR — Forward-looking infrared; primary A/G mode
• TV — Daylight camera; high-resolution targeting
• LST — Laser spot tracker; follow friendly designation
• LTD/R — Laser target designator/ranger; mark your own target

EOTS vs External Pod

✓ No drag, no external signature, always available
✓ Integrated into fusion picture
✗ Fixed field of view — cannot slew as freely as pod
✗ Cannot lase targets directly behind the aircraft

Graded Items: PTD page navigation (flight / tactical / systems), sensor fusion concept explanation, EOTS mode selection, DAS threat cueing interpretation, CNI configuration on PTD.

Takeoff, Basic Handling & Pattern Work

Execute the first flight in the F-35A: complete takeoff sequence, explore handling characteristics, fly formation positions, execute the overhead break, and demonstrate approach and landing technique. The F-35 is heavier and less agile than the F-16 — energy management is critical.

Takeoff

1. Line up, set NWS, check flight controls clear
2. Advance throttle to Mil power — verify engine stable
3. A/B if required for heavy gross weight
4. Rotate at ~165–185 KIAS (weight-dependent)
5. Positive rate of climb — gear up
6. Flaps up when safe, reduce to Mil power
7. Follow departure heading; radar to OPR once airborne

Handling Characteristics

•Heavier than F-16/F-22 — inertia requires earlier power adjustments
•FLCS-limited — angle-of-attack and G are software-capped
•Mach 1.6 cap — not a speed aircraft; avoid extended supersonic
•Fuel burn: A/B at low altitude burns internal reserves in minutes
✓Powerful engine — acceleration from Mil power is impressive

Fingertip

Close parade — 3–5 ft wingtip. Slight step-down from lead.

Route

500 ft lateral, level. Comfortable transit formation.

Combat Spread

1–1.5 NM line abreast. Primary tactical formation for F-35 — mutual sensor coverage.

Trail

1 NM behind lead. Used for instrument approaches.

Pattern & Landing

Overhead Break

1. Initial: 800–1,000 ft AGL, 300 KIAS
2. Break turn: 5–7° pitch, 60–80° bank to downwind
3. Downwind: decelerate, configure (gear/flaps)
4. Base: turn to intercept final, speed reducing
5. Final: maintain on-speed AOA to touchdown

Approach & Landing

• Approach speed: ~140–155 KIAS (weight-dependent)
• Use on-speed AOA indexer — do not chase a fixed airspeed
• Main gear touchdown — no aerobrake required
• Apply brakes smoothly after all wheels down
• Drag chute: not installed on F-35A
• Arrestor hook: present but for emergency use

CAUTION: The F-35A is significantly heavier than legacy fighters at similar fuel states. Do not allow speed to decay below on-speed AOA on final — the aircraft has limited energy margin for a go-around at low power settings.

Graded Items: Takeoff sequence, rotation speed, all four formation positions demonstrated, overhead break geometry, on-speed AOA approach, full-stop landing, go-around execution.

Combat

Lessons 4–5: Combat Block

BFM / DACT & Air-to-Air Employment

The F-35A is not a dogfighting-first aircraft — its A/A advantage is sensor dominance, stealth, and BVR missiles before the merge. Understand the aircraft's BFM limitations, vTAC kill rules, APG-81 employment, and AIM-120D/AIM-9X employment from the internal bay.

F-35A A/A Strengths

✓Stealth — enemy detects you ~1/7 the range
✓APG-81 LPI — radar that's hard for enemy EW to detect
✓Sensor fusion — complete picture before merge
✓AIM-120D BVR — kill before visual range
✓AIM-9X HOBS — high off-boresight shots via HMDS
✓DAS — 360° missile warning; no blind spots

F-35A BFM Limitations

✗Heavier than F-16/F-22 — lower sustained turn rate
✗Mach 1.6 ceiling — not a speed merchant
✗Fuel-intensive in A/B during close-in maneuvering
✗Single engine — no margin for damage in WVR fight
✗Weapons bay doors open briefly to fire — momentary RCS spike

vTAC BFM / DACT Rules

•Tail-only kills — no head-on, top, or bottom shots
•Within ~2,500 ft — call: "1, 2, 3 Guns Guns Guns Kill [type] [altitude]"
•Killed pilot: "Good Kill, terminate fight"

F-35 STRATEGY: Avoid the merge entirely. Use BVR radar employment to kill before visual range. If forced into a WVR fight, the AIM-9X with HMDS cueing is your primary advantage — you can cue off-boresight without pointing the nose.

APG-81 AESA — Key Modes (IFE MSFS)

Air-to-Air Modes

• RWS — Range While Search: wide-area scan, multiple contacts
• TWS — Track While Scan: track up to multiple contacts; launch AIM-120
• STT — Single Target Track: precise lock; AIM-120 active at launch
• ACM — Air Combat Mode: WVR auto-lock modes

Key APG-81 Advantages

• No mechanical scan — AESA beams electronically; instant repositioning
• LPI waveforms — active without being detectable by most RWRs
• Multi-function — simultaneous A/A and SAR mapping
• Long range — classified; estimated 150+ NM search

GAU-22/A 25mm

4-barrel rotary, 180 rounds
Internal — wing root
Effective range: ~3,500 ft
Lower ROF than M61 (25mm vs 20mm)

AIM-120D AMRAAM

Internal bay — 4 max (A/A config)
Active radar; BVR fire-and-forget
Max range: 100+ NM (D variant)
Pitbull ~15–20 NM (active seeker)

AIM-9X Sidewinder

Wingtip stations (external — breaks stealth)
IR seeker; off-boresight via HMDS
HOBS: cue with helmet, launch off-axis
90°+ gimbal angle (Block II)

Standard A/A Loadouts

Stealth (Internal Only)

× 4 AIM-120D (internal bay)
× 1 GAU-22/A 25mm (180 rds)
No external pylons

Enhanced (External — Non-Stealth)

× 4 AIM-120D (internal)
× 2 AIM-9X (wingtip)
× 2 AIM-120C (underwing)
× 1 GAU-22/A 25mm

Graded Items: APG-81 mode selection for BVR vs WVR, AIM-120D TWS employment, AIM-9X HMDS cueing, kill call procedure, BFM fuel management awareness, countermeasures (DAS-cued chaff/flare), fight discipline.

Air-to-Ground Employment

The F-35A's A/G capability is built around the EOTS for target designation and internal weapons bay for stealth delivery. Learn internal vs external weapon configurations, EOTS-guided employment, GPS bombing, and GAU-22 strafe profile.

Internal Weapons Bay — Stealth Configuration

The main weapon bay is located on the aircraft centerline. Doors open briefly for release then close — exposure time is 2–4 seconds per weapon. In MSFS/IFE this is simulated; understand the real-world implication.

A/G Internal Loads

• × 2 GBU-31 JDAM (2,000 lb GPS bomb)
• × 2 GBU-32 JDAM (1,000 lb GPS bomb)
• × 2 GBU-12 Paveway II (laser-guided, EOTS)
• × 8 GBU-39 SDB (Small Diameter Bombs, 4 per rack)
• × 2 GBU-53 StormBreaker (tri-mode seeker)

External A/G (Non-Stealth)

• Up to 6 underwing hardpoints
• Additional JDAMs, Paveways, SDBs
• AGM-158 JASSM (long-range cruise missile)
• Significantly increases drag and RCS
• Use only when stealth is not mission-critical

EOTS + GBU-12 (LGB)

Slew EOTS to target on PTD. Laser on. Weapon guides to laser spot. Requires EOTS LOS throughout — no fire-and-forget.

Best for: dynamic targets, moving vehicles, precise structures.

GPS + JDAM

Enter target coordinates via PTD. Weapon guides via GPS after release — fire and forget. All-weather, no EOTS required.

Best for: fixed targets, pre-planned strikes, weather-degraded visibility.

SDB / StormBreaker

8× SDB per mission (4 per bay rack). Small warhead, long glide — attack multiple targets in one pass. StormBreaker: tri-mode (radar/IR/laser).

Best for: area targets, multiple aim points in one pass.

GAU-22/A 25mm Strafe Profile

Dive Angle10–25°

Entry Speed380–450 KIAS

Trigger Range~3,500 ft

Min Pull-off1,500 ft AGL

The 25mm GAU-22 fires slower than the F-16's 20mm Vulcan but with heavier rounds. Use CCIP mode. Burst 1–2 seconds. Call "Strafing" before trigger; "Winchester" when 180 rounds expended.

MSFS Weapon Simulation Calls

"Pickle" — simulated weapon release

"Winchester" — all A/G weapons expended

"Laser on/off" — EOTS designation state

Graded Items: Weapon bay vs external selection rationale, EOTS slew to target, LGB laser-on/off timing, JDAM coordinate entry, SDB multi-target plan, strafe pull-off altitude, correct simulation calls.

Advanced Ops

Lessons 6–7: Advanced Operations

Cross Country, AAR & Long-Range Mission Planning

The F-35A's ~18,500 lbs of internal fuel gives it exceptional range — but managing that fuel across a long-range mission with stealth discipline requires careful planning. Fly KHIF to an assigned distant field, demonstrating autopilot proficiency and AAR as receiver.

Mission Planning

•Use SimBrief with F-35A profile for fuel/routing
•Steerpoints entered via PTD CNI page before departure
•Plan cruise at FL350–FL400 for optimal fuel economy
•Avoid supersonic cruise — fuel burn doubles
•Brief Joker/Bingo for specific route distance

Autopilot (IFE MSFS)

•AP on PTD or dedicated AP panel
•Heading, altitude, and speed hold modes
•VNAV follows loaded steerpoint altitude profile
•Monitor: EMCON status, fuel state, radar mode
•Disengage before weapons employment or BFM

Air-to-Air Refueling — F-35A as Receiver

Receptacle & Setup

• Boom receptacle: upper fuselage, forward of canopy
• Open via fuel panel — refueling door open light confirms
• MASTER ARM → SAFE before AR pattern
• Radar → STBY during AR (EMCON discipline)

AR Procedure

1. Join tanker in left echelon by fuel urgency
2. Call: "[Tanker], Lightning 1, requesting 8,000 lbs"
3. Move to pre-contact — 50 ft aft, 10 ft below
4. Stabilize — small trim corrections only
5. Tanker runs silent count; when fuel door is open and within 50 ft of tanker, the F-35A will begin refueling automatically
6. Disconnect; reform right echelon

TIP: The F-35A is heavy and slow to respond to small throttle inputs at AR speed. Use small trim changes to maintain position — not stick or throttle jabs. Establish the correct power setting for the tanker's speed before approaching contact.

Graded Items: Steerpoints loaded before departure, autopilot engagement and monitoring, EMCON awareness during cruise, AR radio call, refueling door procedure, pre-contact position stability, fuel added correctly.

Stealth Mission Planning & NVG Night Flying

Combine stealth operational concepts with NVG night flying. Plan a notional stealth ingress, understand EMCON discipline, and execute a night FAM then night cross-country using ReShade NVGs. The F-35's DAS gives a sensor advantage at night that no legacy fighter can match.

Stealth Mission Planning Principles

•Weapons bay only — external pylons compromise the mission
•EMCON planning — brief when radar is active vs. silent
•Ingress altitude — higher reduces radar detection from surface threats
•Route deconfliction — avoid known SAM rings using DAS/EW data
•Weapons bay doors — open/close in 2–4 sec; plan release timing

Night Ops — DAS Advantage

✓DAS feeds pilot HMDS at night — see contacts without NVGs
✓EOTS FLIR mode — full targeting capability in darkness
✓DAS missile warning 360° — no night blind spots
!Formation spacing — increase by 50% at night
!Landing: rely on instruments — night visual illusions dangerous

Night Ops Progression

1.ReShade NVG setup — install per guide in vTAC HQ Tech Support Discord. IP assists before first night sortie.
2.Night FAM — repeat Lesson 3 FAM profile at night over KHIF area. Identify depth perception and spacing differences.
3.Night cross-country — KHIF to assigned field (150+ NM). Practice night overhead break and approach using EOTS and on-speed AOA.

Graded Items: Stealth loadout selection rationale, EMCON briefing accuracy, ReShade NVG functional, night formation spacing, EOTS FLIR on final approach at night, night cross-country completed.

B-Course Complete — F-35A Lightning II Qualified

Pilot is authorized to operate the F-35A under the 388th FW/vACC in vTAC MAJCOM operations. Qualification logged in your vTAC record.