Source: Naval Today
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to get underway from HMNB Portsmouth on Saturday for her first-of-class F-35B flight trials.
The deployment is dubbed Westlant 18 and will see the carrier spend four months off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States with the aim of developing the operating envelope – the parameters for safe operations – of the F-35.
Prior to her departure, HMS Queen Elizabeth was joined by Merlin Mk2 helicopters, aircrew and support personnel from 820 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) who embarked the carrier to support her forthcoming trials.
She will also be joined by RFA Tiderace and Plymouth-based type-23 frigate HMS Monmouth, and a contingent of Royal Marines from 42 Commando, Plymouth.
Read more at: https://navaltoday.com/2018/08/17/hms-queen-elizabeth-setting-sail-for-four-months-of-f-35b-trials-off-us-coast/