Lightnings Landing on Highways and looking back on the "maneater"
Lightnings Landing on Highways and looking back on the "maneater"
USAF F-35s have landed on Finnish Highways and remembering the first flight of the F-107
““Supersonic airplanes have carried men at more than 2,000 miles per hour and there are reasons to believe that this speed will be doubled by 1960 or so.”
— Igor Sikorsky
Mission Briefing
F-35s Land on Finnish Highway in First-Ever Drill for Agile Combat Readiness
In a bold demonstration of future warfare tactics, two U.S. Air Force F-35A fighters landed on a highway in Finland on Wednesday as part of a drill designed to simulate operations in a high-intensity conflict. This exercise marks the first time the U.S. Air Force has landed its F-35s on a highway, showcasing the force's readiness under the agile combat employment (ACE) concept.
The two F-35s, hailing from the 48th Fighter Wing stationed at RAF Lakenheath in England, executed the landings on Finland's Hosio Highway Strip in Ranua. The operation was part of the BAANA 2024 exercise and emphasized the Air Force's commitment to preparing for conflict scenarios where traditional air bases could be vulnerable.
The Air Force is particularly concerned about adversaries like China, which could deploy stand-off weapons to strike large U.S. bases in regions such as Japan or Guam. In a potential conflict, missile barrages or other attacks could cripple key military airfields, severely limiting U.S. airpower.
To address this risk, the ACE strategy was developed. Instead of relying solely on major, centralized bases, the Air Force plans to disperse its operations across multiple smaller, more austere locations in a "hub and spoke" pattern. By spreading out, enemy forces would need to target numerous sites, complicating their efforts and increasing the survivability of U.S. aircraft.
This is where highway landings come into play. Under the ACE model, the Air Force could establish rough airfields or use existing infrastructure like local highways for aircraft operations. The successful landings in Finland underscore how U.S. and NATO forces are adapting to this new combat approach.
"The successful first-ever landing of our fifth-generation F-35 on a highway in Europe is a testament to the growing relationship and close interoperability we have with our Finnish allies,” said Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. “The opportunity to learn from our Finnish counterparts improves our ability to rapidly deploy and employ airpower from unconventional locations and reflects the collective readiness and agility of our forces."
Finland’s military strategy has long included the integration of civilian infrastructure into its defense planning, with highways serving as makeshift runways for warplanes. During the BAANA 2024 exercise, other NATO allies also practiced highway landings, including a German Eurofighter Typhoon and a Finnish Hawk jet trainer.
Finland's role in NATO has grown significantly since it formally joined the alliance in 2023, largely in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Air Force highlighted how Finland’s membership has deepened collaboration between U.S. and Finnish airmen, particularly through joint exercises like the 1v1 air superiority training held in June at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
As the U.S. and its NATO allies continue to refine their ACE capabilities, exercises like the highway landings in Finland highlight the evolving strategies aimed at ensuring airpower readiness, even in the most challenging operational environments.
This week in aviation history
10 September 1956: North American Aviation test pilot Joel Robert ("Bob") Baker took to the skies in the very first F-107A-NA, a cutting-edge tactical fighter-bomber, and one of the most unusual looking aircraft ever to fly. Designated 55-5118, the aircraft hit a top speed of Mach 1.03 on its maiden flight. However, things took a turn during landing. The drogue parachute failed to deploy, leading to a high-speed rollout. As a result, the nose gear strut collapsed, causing minor damage to the brand-new aircraft.
The F-107A had bold ambitions. Designed for Mach 2+ speeds and armed with nuclear capabilities, it featured an unconventional design with an engine intake mounted above and behind the cockpit to accommodate a Mark 7 nuclear bomb in a belly-mounted centerline recess.
Initially conceived as the F-100B, the aircraft’s designation was changed to F-107A before its first flight. Derived from the F-100 Super Sabre, the F-107A was a single-seat, supersonic fighter-bomber, boasting a sophisticated stability augmentation system. At 61 feet, 10 inches long with a wingspan of 36 feet, 7 inches, and a height of 19 feet, 8 inches, the aircraft had an empty weight of 22,696 pounds but could reach a maximum takeoff weight of 41,537 pounds.
The heart of the F-107A was a Pratt & Whitney YJ75-P-11 afterburning turbojet, producing an impressive 24,500 pounds of thrust. This allowed the aircraft to reach speeds of 890 miles per hour at sea level and 1,295 miles per hour at 36,000 feet, with a climb rate of 39,900 feet per minute and a service ceiling of 53,200 feet.
One of the most interesting aspects of the F-107A’s design was its nuclear capabilities, specifically designed to carry the Mark 7 fission bomb. The Mark 7 had a variable yield ranging from 8 to 61 kilotons and weighed around 1,700 pounds.
Only three F-107A aircraft were ever built. The F-107A was in direct competition with Republic’s F-105 Thunderchief for a place in the Air Force's tactical strike role, but the Thunderchief was ultimately chosen. Of the three F-107A aircraft, 55-5119 was used for weapons testing and was armed with four 20mm M39 cannons.
After Air Force trials, two F-107As, including 55-5118, were transferred to the NACA High-Speed Flight Station for research purposes. While 55-5118 made only four flights with NACA, its sibling, 55-5120, made 42 flights before being grounded.
Today, you can find 55-5118 on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. Its sister aircraft, 55-5119, resides at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio. Sadly, the third F-107A, 55-5120, was damaged during a takeoff accident with test pilot Scott Crossfield in 1959 and was never repaired.
This story serves as a reminder of the fascinating innovations and challenges of aviation history. Though short-lived, the F-107A's legacy continues to captivate enthusiasts and historians alike.
More on the Maneater
Here’s my video all about the F-107:
Photo Outlet
The C-17 Globemaster is such an underrated aircraft:
Post Flight Debrief
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-Tog