Aircraft
Marines F-35C Squadron Declared ‘Safe For Flight’
The award of its SFFOC certificate means that VMFA-314 has completed its type transition phase and can independently work up to operational capability.
VMFA-314’s first F-35C flies from Lemoore in June in company with one of the squadron’s outgoing F/A-18A++ aircraft, the latter flown by squadron commander Lieutenant Colonel Cedar Hinton. (Photo: U.S. Navy)
VMFA-314’s first F-35C flies from Lemoore in June in company with one of the squadron’s outgoing F/A-18A++ aircraft, the latter flown by squadron commander Lieutenant Colonel Cedar Hinton. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314—the first Marine Corps unit to fly the F-35C carrier-borne version of the Lockheed Martin Lightning II—received its Safe-For-Flight Operations Certificate (SFFOC) at MCAS Miramar, California, on March 20. The award of the SFFOC signifies that the “Black Knights” of VMFA-314 are authorized to continue their operations independently, without the oversight of the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Replacement (training) squadron, VFA-125 “Rough Raiders,” with whom the Black Knights had been training at NAS Lemoore, California, since September 2019. Receipt of the SFFOC verifies that the squadron is manned with qualified personnel who can implement maintenance and safety programs while the squadron works up toward combat readiness.


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