In August 1983 No. 75 Squadron became the first RAAF fighter squadron to be permanently based in the Northern Territory since World War II. In May 1988 the RAAF acquired 55 F/A-18As and 16 F/A-18Bs. RAAF 75 Squadron; based at Tindal was the last unit to fly the F/A- 18A. On December 4, 2021 the Hornet made its final flight and five days later the first F-35A was delivered. One of the F-35As received was A35-029 c/n AU-29 U.S. serial 18-5400. In June 2022 No. 75 Squadron celebrated its 80th Anniversary.

Designed to meet the US Military's requirement for a multi-role Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35 was first flown on December 15, 2006. This single-seat fighter is one of the most advanced aircraft of our time, said to be four times more effective at air-to-air combat and eight times more effective at air-to-ground combat than any other existing aircraft. It uses a low-maintenance stealth technology, and some versions have an innovative Lift System, which gives the F-35 vertical take-off and landing capabilities. The US plans to buy a total of 2,443 F-35s at a cost of $323 billion, which makes the F-35 the most expensive defense program in history.

Info:   F-35A Lightning II - RAAF No.75 Sqn, #A35-029, RAAF Tindal, Australia, 2022