A flight of two F-35A quick climbs of the 48th Fighter Wing are cleared for ‘Quick Climb’ to FL170. There are two combat-ready fighter squadrons at RAF Lakenheath, the 493d Fighter Squadron ‘Grim Reapers’ and the 495th Fighter Squadron ‘Valkyries’. The F-15Es are flown by the 492d Fighter Squadron “Madhatters” and the 494th Fighter Squadron “Panthers”. So what is a Quick Climb or Unrestricted Climb? Unlike the Typhoon which accelerates vertically after 9 seconds from brakes to take off, aircraft such as the F15E or F35A will usually clear the whole runway maintaining an altitude anywhere between 50-100ft with speeds of around 420mph and then pull the aircraft vertically or near vertical to quickly climb to the aircraft’s cruising altitude. It is more commonly requested by the pilot as a “quick climb” but take note that an Unrestricted Climb and Quick Climb are the same thing. Why do they

Source: TWO F – 35 UNRESTRICTED CLIMB TO 17,000FT LOCKHEED MARTIN / PRATT AND WHITNEY POWER • RAF LAKENHEATH