The F-35 Lightning II, one of two cutting-edge combat aircraft that will appear at the Cleveland National Air Show this year

(Cleveland National Air Show)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning will make its Cleveland National Air Show debut this year.

F-35 Lightning II in flight.

Also in attendance will be the F-22 Raptor tactical fighter.

"The Air Combat Command told me we are the only civilian air show to have both," Kim Dell, executive director of the show said Thursday.

Both are built by Lockheed Martin.

The Lightning, named after the famed P-38 fighter that Lockheed developed during World War II.

The newest Lightning is also unusual because it is one of the few combat aircraft to be shared by the Air Force, Navy and Marines.

Dell said it is called the Joint Strike Fighter not only because of those services sharing it, but also because Great Britain will deploy it as well.

The F-4 Phantom is one of the most famous examples a shared air platform and is the only aircraft flown by the Navy's Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds, examples of which are on display at Burke Lakefront Airport.

Once again, Burke will be the site of the air show, which is September 3, 4, and 5.

The Blue Angels will be the headline demonstration team this year.

The Lightning II will do heritage flights with a yet-to-be-designated combat aircraft from an earlier conflict.

Dell said this year also represents an overall increase in the number of modern military aircraft.

"Last year, the Department of Defense said we could have two Air Force planes, and one each from the other branches," Dell said. This year the Air Force will send five, and the other branches will send more as well.