![Air Force Lightning strikes in northern Colorado Air Force Lightning strikes in northern Colorado](https://photos.smugmug.com/Tonys-Takes/n-hsSJf/2021/10-16-10-17-2021-F-35-Demo-Team/i-fS5PCt9/0/16b161b0/X4/20211017%20-%2013-50-24%20-%200965-Edit-X4.jpg)
Of all the demonstrations at The Great Colorado Air Show last month, this was the one I was most looking forward to. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is the United States’ latest fighter aircraft and I expected it to be impressive – and it was.
The U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team and pilot Major Kristin “Beo” Wolfe put on a heck of a show. The single-seat, single-engine aircraft was amazing to watch, feel and hear.
It is interesting to note that there are three distinct versions of the F-35 Lighting II.
The F-35A, seen here, is the Air Force version and the lightest of the bunch. The Marine Corps flies the F-35B with it having the distinct capability of short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL), allowing it to operate in a wider variety of environments and off of Navy amphibious assault ships. The F-35C is the U.S. Navy’s version, beefed up with larger, foldable wings and stronger landing gear for operations off of aircraft carriers.
![An Air Force F-35 Lightning II takes off with Colorado's Mount Meeker and Longs Peak in the background. (© Tony's Takes)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Tonys-Takes/n-hsSJf/2021/10-16-10-17-2021-F-35-Demo-Team/i-nCBpQDD/0/9931ee3f/X4/20211017%20-%2013-45-12%20-%200663-Edit-2-X4.jpg)
![An Air Force F-35 Lightning II goes vertical. (© Tony's Takes)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Tonys-Takes/n-hsSJf/2021/10-16-10-17-2021-F-35-Demo-Team/i-pLgbk52/0/2ea0e95d/X4/20211016%20-%2013-59-11%20-%200261-Edit-X4.jpg)
![An Air Force F-35 flies by with its weapons' bay doors open. (© Tony's Takes)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Tonys-Takes/n-hsSJf/2021/10-16-10-17-2021-F-35-Demo-Team/i-jXqZWNW/0/be73519e/X4/20211016%20-%2013-53-41%20-%200369-Edit-2-X4.jpg)
![An Air Force F-35 flies high in the sky with the snow-capped Rocky Mountains below. (© Tony's Takes)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Tonys-Takes/n-hsSJf/2021/10-16-10-17-2021-F-35-Demo-Team/i-NHgkxQz/0/248ce23c/X4/20211016%20-%2013-55-53%20-%200072-Edit-X4.jpg)