‘On the forefront’: First feminine Air Nationwide Guard F-35 pilot makes historical past

After three years of coaching, historical past was made as the primary lady within the Air Nationwide Guard took to the skies to pilot an F-35 fighter jet.

The Air Nationwide Guard mentioned 1st Lt. Kelsey Flannery, 30, accomplished the inaugural flight as a member of Vermont’s Air Nationwide Guard’s 134th Fighter Squadron on Sept. 7.

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“I actually wished to be on the forefront,” Flannery mentioned in a press release. “It’s thrilling to stand up there, go quick, and be capable of make use of weapons, in order that was one of many extra interesting elements of it.”

As a daughter of an Air Pressure pilot, Flannery mentioned she all the time knew she wished to fly for the army. The concept of creating historical past as the primary feminine within the Air Nationwide Guard to pilot an F-35, nevertheless, by no means got here up throughout her coaching.

“There’s undoubtedly been a path blazed already. I’m actually grateful to the ladies who've executed that, however no person has introduced it up, and I really feel very very similar to an equal right here,” Flannery mentioned. “Individuals simply deal with me like a wingman, and it’s nice because it permits me to focus extra on flying.”

Flannery’s efficiency has earned her excessive reward.

“By no means needed to fear about her up within the air,” Capt. Jake Dubie, an teacher pilot within the 134th Fighter Squadron, mentioned about her inaugural flight. “She did an superior job, so it was undoubtedly lots of enjoyable.”

Flannery mentioned she hopes to make a profession within the Vermont Air Nationwide Guard.