The sortie took place at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. VMFA-115 falls under Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The Marine Corps called the flight a significant milestone. Officials said the squadron is preparing to return to operational service later this year.
VMFA-115 was deactivated in November 2023. The unit retired its F/A-18C/D Hornets at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, ending its run with the legacy jet.
The squadron is now rebuilding as an F-35C unit. The F-35C is the carrier-launched variant of the Lightning II, built for U.S. Navy flight decks.
Ground crews readied the aircraft before takeoff. Powerline mechanics Lance Cpl. James Roberts, Cpl. Matthew Giambrone and Jose Maldonado ran pre-flight checks, according to Marine Corps imagery.
Lt. Col. Hugh Anderson, VMFA-115’s commanding officer, flew the first sortie. Capt. Jackson Zagurski, another VMFA-115 pilot, flew a second F-35C. That jet carried the markings of VMFA-251, a sister squadron based at Cherry Point.
VMFA-251 became the first East Coast F-35C squadron in September 2024.
The Marine Corps set delivery targets for VMFA-115 in its 2026 Aviation Plan. The squadron is due to receive six F-35Cs by fiscal year 2027. That total rises to 10 jets by early fiscal year 2028. A full complement of 12 aircraft is planned by fiscal year 2031.
VMFA-115 will also receive jets fitted with Technology Refresh-3 avionics upgrades.
