Q&A with F-35 Demo Team pilot Capt Kristin ‘Beo’ Wolfe

Capt Kristin Wolfe, also known by her callsign “Beo,” is the Commander of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Starting with the 2020 airshow season, she proudly became the first female F-35 Demo Team pilot, and will continue in her role through the 2021 air demonstration season. Capt Wolfe entered the Air Force in 2011 after receiving her commission from the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program at the University of Alabama. She has been flying the F-35 since she transitioned from the F-22 Raptor in 2017. Today, Capt Wolfe has over 1,000 total fighter hours in both of the service’s fifth-generation aircraft.

Skies recently invited our followers on Instagram and Facebook to submit their questions for Capt Wolfe. See her answers below!

Skies: When did you realize that you wanted to become a fighter pilot?

Capt Wolfe: I didn’t get interested in aviation until I joined ROTC [Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps] in college and started researching what career path I was interested in. I quickly figured out that the pilot community was a perfect fit for me, and the challenge and adventure of being a fighter pilot was the ultimate goal I wanted to achieve.

After two assignments in combat squadrons, I applied for the Demo Team position to be part of a totally different flying adventure, but also for the ability to make an impact in a new capacity.

Skies: How does it feel to fly a workhorse like the F-35?

Capt Wolfe: The cool part about flying a multi-role fighter like the F-35 is that we get to train to a huge variety of mission sets. It’s extremely challenging to stay proficient in all of the different tactics, especially in a jet that’s evolving and being upgraded so quickly.

Skies: What is it like flying in stealth?

Capt Wolfe: I’ve been fortunate enough to fly two stealth fighters, but no fourth-generation fighters, so stealth technology and tactics is all I’ve known while flying in the Combat Air Force.  It’s a huge eye opener and confidence builder to integrate with other platforms, and to experience the advantages we have flying stealth platforms against air-to-air and air-to-ground systems.

Skies: What is the best part of the F-35?

Capt Wolfe: One of the best parts is flying the newest, most premier fighter in the world. We get brand new airplanes straight out of the factory, so you know you’re flying the top-of-the-line, most advanced technology out there. 

The other cool part about the F-35, specifically, is that the three U.S. services and multiple nations are also flying the jet. This offers us the ability to integrate more seamlessly than ever before, and be much more effective when we fight together.

Skies: What is your favorite part of your job?

Capt Wolfe: First and foremost, I love being in the military — particularly the Air Force — because of the caliber of people I get to work with who are so focused on accomplishing every mission well. I love being part of a Demo Team because it’s a completely different mission to recruit, retain, and inspire people to take our place. The perks of traveling to airshows all over the country and meeting aviation enthusiasts is the icing on the cake.

Skies: What types of obstacles have you had to overcome?

Capt Wolfe: I’ve been extremely lucky to clear all of the hurdles it takes to become a fighter pilot, such as medical qualifications, the rigorous training pipeline, and the sheer timing of fighter positions available. Many point out the obvious example of being a female in a male-dominated community, but my experience has been extremely fair — as long as you maintain the attitude and competency it takes to be a fighter pilot.

Skies: How would you describe your demonstration?

Capt Wolfe: The F-35 aerobatic demo is relatively new to the airshow circuit, as it was first flown in 2019 by the team at Luke Air Force Base, [Arizona]. The routine was designed to show off as much of the airplane’s capabilities as possible, which includes the High Speed Pass at 0.95 Mach; the Slow Speed Pass at approximately 90 knots groundspeed; and a variety of high angle-of-attack maneuvers like the Lightning Loop and Tactical Pitch.

Skies: Are you flying the aircraft to the fullest extent of its capabilities?

Capt Wolfe: During the demonstration, we do try to show off the ultimate capabilities of the jet within the limits of an airshow with FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] regulations. We obviously can’t show some of the combat capabilities — such as the maximum speed of 1.6 Mach, or any type of weapons employment — but we are displaying as much of the advanced handling characteristics and maneuvering as we can.

Skies: Is there any sort of friendly rivalry between the demo teams?

Capt Wolfe: Even though COVID put a damper on traveling to many airshows in 2020, we were extremely fortunate that it allowed us to travel with many of the other demo teams — which isn’t necessarily typical for a regular season. Since this was the first year standing up the F-35 team at Hill Air Force Base, we were able to learn a great deal from watching and integrating with the other veteran teams. 

There’s always an entertaining, friendly rivalry between teams, because every team member — whether it’s the pilot, a maintainer, our public affairs team, etc. — thinks their airplane is the best fighter at the show. No matter what aircraft is performing, however, it’s always a guarantee that every team has eyes turned towards the demo and loves watching all of the jets perform.

This interview has been edited for clarity.