On March 19, 2009, then-Maj. Ty “O.D.” Bachmann stepped into the cockpit of the AA-1 aircraft, the first F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, making him the first U.S. Marine to fly the F-35A while also paving the way for the F-35B variant. This article, which is a part of the F-35 Joint Program Office’s Blast from the Past series, is an interview with Bachmann that covers his experience flying the AA-1 aircraft. The F-35 Joint Program Office is the Department of Defense’s focal point for the 5th generation strike aircraft for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and our allies. The F-35 is the premier multi-mission, 5th-generation weapon system. Its ability to collect, analyze and share data is a force multiplier that enhances all assets in the battle space: with stealth technology, advanced sensors, weapons capacity, and range. The F-35 has been operational since July 2015 and is the most lethal, survivable, and interoperable fighter aircraft ever built.