More British pilots headed to MCAS Beaufort

More British pilots and aircraft maintenance workers are headed to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort as the United Kingdom works to establish its F-35 program.

The visiting service members will join Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 to learn the F-35B Lightning II. There are currently 14 British operators on the base, where they have been since February.

The goal is for the United Kingdom to launch a land-based F-35 program in 2018 and operate aboard an aircraft carrier in 2020.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 6:09 PM with the headline "More British pilots headed to MCAS Beaufort."