Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort welcomed home one of its own, July 11. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 returned to Fightertown and with it, a new era in Marine Corps aviation.VMFAT-501 was located at MCAS Beaufort until 1997, when it deactivated. The squadron was reactivated in April 2010 and designated as a training squadron. After four years of training with the F-35B Lightning II the squadron moved back to MCAS Beaufort."Between June and September we'll have all the VMFAT-501 aircraft and squadron personnel relocating, and in October we'll start training," said Lieutenant Colonel Luis E. Villalobos, the officer in charge of the Pilot Training Center.The Marine Corps’ F-35B variant replaces and performs the roles of three legacy aircraft. The F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier II and EA-6B Prowler will be phased out over a period of time. The future of Marine Corps aviation, the F-35B, has arrived. - Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort welcomed home one of its own, July 11. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 returned to Fightertown and with it, a new era in Marine Corps aviation.VMFAT-501 was located at MCAS Beaufort until 1997, when it deactivated. The squadron was reactivated in April 2010 and designated as a training squadron. After four years of training with the F-35B Lightning II the squadron moved back to MCAS Beaufort."Between June and September we'll have all the VMFAT-501 aircraft and squadron personnel relocating, and in October we'll start training," said Lieutenant Colonel Luis E. Villalobos, the officer in charge of the Pilot Training Center. The Marine Corps’ F-35B variant replaces and performs the roles of three legacy aircraft. The F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier II and EA-6B Prowler will be phased out over a period of time. The future of Marine Corps aviation, the F-35B, has arrived.

The F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is showcased during a debut to the Beaufort, S.C. community aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Aug. 20. The F-35 will replace the Marine Corps' aging legacy tactical fleet providing the dominant, multi-role, fifth-generation capabilities needed across the full spectrum of combat operations to deter potential adversaries and enable future naval aviation power projection. MCAS Beaufort is expected to receive the aircraft in 2014 along with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, the Marine Corps' first F-35B training squadron, which falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 aboard MCAS Beaufort. - The F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is showcased during a debut to the Beaufort, S.C. community aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Aug. 20. The F-35 will replace the Marine Corps' aging legacy tactical fleet providing the dominant, multi-role, fifth-generation capabilities needed across the full spectrum of combat operations to deter potential adversaries and enable future naval aviation power projection. MCAS Beaufort is expected to receive the aircraft in 2014 along with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, the Marine Corps' first F-35B training squadron, which falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 aboard MCAS Beaufort.