No. This F-35 Lightning II Aviation Gift Set includes a stainless-steel mug, an aircraft-themed magnet, a metal specification tag, a 3D aircraft keychain, and a presentation box. A display aircraft model is not included.
No. This gift set is not intended as a toy. It contains small parts and should be kept away from young children.
Where can I check delivery and return terms before gifting?
Read the shipping policy for processing times, estimated transit times, and shipping charges. Check the returns policy for eligibility, return shipping costs, and the return address before ordering for someone else.
About the real aircraft
One family, many design decisions
Historical details describe the full-size aircraft, not the collectible’s materials or functions.
The Lightning II story connects two historic namesakes with the challenge of developing one aircraft family in three distinct forms.
Explore the F-35 Lightning II story
The Lightning II name reaches across generations and across the Atlantic. Announced in 2006, it honors both Lockheed’s P-38 Lightning and the English Electric Lightning. Behind that shared name, the F-35 program set out to meet the needs of three U.S. services through three related variants: the F-35A, F-35B and F-35C.
One revealing part of that development story is the use of physical models. Lockheed Martin documents at least 25 models made to record the design’s progression. An early example had removable wings and fins to demonstrate differences between variants. Those study models make the process tangible: familiar aircraft shapes emerge through successive decisions, revisions and tests.
The first F-35 flight took place at Fort Worth, Texas, on December 15, 2006. Chief pilot Jon Beesley flew the conventional-takeoff-and-landing development aircraft for 35 minutes, checking its handling, engine and other systems. It marked the start of the F-35’s flight-test program, rather than the arrival of all three versions in operational service.
For collectors, that development history adds another layer to the Lightning II’s appeal. Its family resemblance invites attention, while the story behind it rewards curiosity about how an aircraft moves from a study model to flight.
Three details to know
July 7, 2006: the Lightning II name was announced, honoring the P-38 Lightning and English Electric Lightning. [1]
December 15, 2006: the first F-35 flight lasted 35 minutes, from 12:44 to 1:19 p.m. local time. [4]
The real-aircraft family has three variants: F-35A, F-35B and F-35C. [3]
