In a first-of-its-kind operation, the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps successfully sling loaded an F-35B Lightning II airframe using a CH-53K heavy lift helicopter.
The mission, carried out on August 27, involved transporting the non-flyable F-35B—known as BF-1—over 500 miles from Naval Air Station Patuxent River to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. The aircraft, which no longer contains its propulsion or mission systems, will be placed on permanent static display.
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Christian Von Denes, sling load team lead with the 621st Contingency Response Group (CRG), was requested by name for the mission by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the F-35 Joint Program Office.
“This milestone operation highlights the growing collaboration across military branches and affirms the 621st Contingency Response Wing’s role in advancing rapid deployment capabilities for next-generation aircraft,” Von Denes said.
The joint effort brought together personnel from the F-35 Integrated Test Force at NAS Patuxent River, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Cargo Lab, Marine Aircraft Group 31, and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533. Working with a Marine Helicopter Support Team, the 621st CRG oversaw rigging, flight certification, and cargo configuration to ensure the success of the lift.
Von Denes said the team’s preparations, including a pre-lift test conducted two weeks earlier using a crane, were essential to the outcome.
“The meticulous preparation from my team at home station ensured the effective skillset which enabled the successful 500-mile CH-53K helicopter transport of the jet—marking a major step forward in agile logistics and future aircraft mobility testing,” he said.
He added that the preliminary testing included verifying sling configuration, evaluating the aircraft’s pitch and bank attitudes, and analyzing the state of its control surfaces. According to Von Denes, it was not simply about moving an aircraft, but about demonstrating the precision and coordination required to support future operations involving advanced airframes.
“We treated it like it was our jet going along for the ride,” Von Denes said. “It took weeks, if not months, to prepare for this operation. Working with the Marine HST was great, and I look forward to continuing this relationship in the future. This wasn’t just another job; it was a showcase of expertise, proving that attention to detail on the ground translates directly to groundbreaking achievements in the air.”
The CH-53K King Stallion helicopter, operated by Marine Corps aircrews, was previously used to transport another F-35 following required flight testing. However, this is the first case of a sling load operation involving the F-35B airframe.
The aircraft in question, BF-1, holds a unique place in the F-35 program as the first variant of the B-model to complete a vertical landing. It was transported without outer wings or propulsion systems and stripped of additional equipment, allowing for reduced weight and aerodynamic considerations during flight.
Officials involved in the effort said the successful airlift opens new possibilities for future contingency recovery missions involving advanced combat aircraft, particularly in regions where traditional transport may be unavailable or too slow to meet operational timelines.