DATELINE: May 7, 2015 – US Department of Defense, Eglin AFB, Florida

[All photos courtesy of the USAF and PACC TV Channel 10, Wayne County North Carolina and much of story from 1st Lt. Hope Cronin, 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs ]

Working Mother and Jet Fighter Pilot – All in One

        Colonel Christine Mau and Her Daughter

Pilot Mau works at Easel for Air Base event

The Air Force has changed over the past fifty years in how some of its pilots spend their off-duty time at home.  The USAF has just announced that its first highly trained and combat experienced female jet pilot has begun her training in the most advanced Air Force 5th generation Stealth Fighter, the F-35 Lightning II at Eglin AFB, in Florida.

Above, Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, puts on her helmet before taking her first flight in the F-35A on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike Eagles, made history as the first female F-35 pilot in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)

Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Operations Group deputy commander, navigates her F-35A through the “bird bath” after returning from her first flight on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 5, 2015. Mau, who previously flew F-15E Strike Eagles, made history as the first female F-35 pilot in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson)

Lt. Col. Christine Mau, the 33rd Fighter Wing Operations Group deputy commander, has just completed her intitial training flight in the single-seat fifth-generation fighter following 14 virtual training missions in the full mission simulator at the F-35 Academic Training Center.

Immediately following her record setting first Lightning II flight, Colonel Mau relaxes for moment before exiting the cockpit of the nation’s first line advanced stealth fighter.

“It wasn’t until I was taxiing to the runway that it really struck me that I was on my own in the jet,” observed Mau, formerly an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot (see photo immediately below of Colonel Mau in the F-15 Strike Eagle). “I had a chase aircraft, but there was no weapons system officer or instructor pilot sitting behind me, and no one in my ear like in simulators.”
And with that, like the other 87 F-35A pilots trained over the last four years, Mau thundered down the runway and was airborne as the first woman in the Air Force’s premier fighter.

 “It felt great to get airborne. The jet flies like a dream, and seeing the systems interact is impressive. Flying with the Helmet Mounted Display (System) takes some adjusting, but it’s an easy adjustment,” Mau (on left) said. “The training missions in the simulator prepare you very well, so you’re ready for that flight.“

Mau while being interviewed on TV Channel 10 in North Carolina, where she was based before entering training at Eglin AFB in Florida for the F-35 strike fighter program.

“Flying is a great equalizer,” Mau said. “The plane doesn’t know or care about your gender as a pilot, nor do the ground troops who need your support. You just have to perform. That’s all anyone cares about when you’re up there — that you can do your job, and that you do it exceptionally well.”

Mau’s combat experience and technical prowess in the cockpit were the primary draws for her selection to her position with the 33rd Operations Group.

“Lt. Col. Mau brings a valuable level of combat and operational knowledge to our team,” said Col. Todd Canterbury, the 33rd Fighter Wing commander. “We’re nearly a year out from declaring Initial Operational Capability with the F-35. We need battle-tested pilots to help us put the F-35A through its paces and ensure we have a trained and ready force of F-35 pilots to feed into our combat air forces.”

While with the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Mau was part of the first all-female combat sortie. The combat mission provided air support to coalition and Afghan forces in the Kunar Valley, Afghanistan. From the pilots and weapons system officers of the two F-15E jets to the mission planners and maintainers, the entire mission was carried out entirely by women.

“As a service, we need to attract the most innovative and skillful Airmen possible for one reason — it makes us more effective,” Canterbury said. “The broader the net that we cast into the talent pool, coupled with a laser focus on performance, ensures we have the best Airmen in place to carry out the mission. Performance is key, and it’s the standard we hold all of our Airmen to in the Air Force.”