It seems to work really well until you shoot at it, or dog fight it, or try to hit anything with its weapons systems, or decide to fly it in warm weather (ISIS should be thrilled) or basically ask it to do much of anything it was promised to do. But the good news is, it will wow and amaze at air shows.

Wonder what the pilot's reaction is going to be when you tell him that he will have to slow down in order to deploy countermeasures. And oh yea, there is no simulator so just get out there and learn to fly it and don't use the ejection seat because it may kill you.


http://www.popularmechanics.co...-35s-combat-utility/


Someone should be hung for this...

wonder if the f32 was better. that was the one I picked.

They're saying now that a full 500 planes will have been built before the system even begins full testing sometime in late 2018, or maybe 2019... more and more depends on selling the system to our allies who rightfully will be pissed if it doesn't come together as planed!

Phil

We should have simply continued to upgrade the F-15, F-16 and FA-18. They are all proven platforms and all are capable of dealing with anything flying against it.

Our appetite for technology has outpaced our capabilities.. and our pocketbooks.

check in with the polititions not the technitions

Is this the same F-35 that demonstrated it's best weapon system - a sonic boom that frightened and confused everyone in NJ recently ??
OH a bomb, oh an earthquake , oh the end of the world ,etc, etc !!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wir...king-loud-noise.html

We need a bunch more F-22s--nothing is even close to their capability. Maybe we can develop a strike version. F-35s should go back to the drawing board until they can at least match an F-18 in maneuverability, though they should be able to step up from that to the F-16 level of maneuverability. A-10s need to be retired. More F-16s and F-18s should be built along with more C-17s and J model Herks.

Maybe we ought to just build a bout another 75 million M16A4 MWS's and issue one per non-prohibited adult male along with 500 rnds of 556 ball and a biannual requirement to drill- build a big fence and stay home awhile- too many nations depend on our air/sea power at excessive expense to our blood and treasure. Screw 'em all!

All said, I did rather enjoy the drone of a Spectre overhead, or a pair of Vipers departing or a Hog drilling a hillside for varmints....

Well, $1.5 to $2 Trillion does buy a lot of other useful stuff... that works...

We also need a medium sized airlifter, about 1/2 a C-17. It needs to hold 8-10 pallets and cruise at C-17 speeds (440 kts), be air refuelable, and have a similar range. There is often a need to send 4-6 pallets a long ways. Too long for a C-130 but awfully inefficient for a C-17.

C-17 burns 18,000 pounds per hour at 440 kts with 18 pallets, C-130 burns 5,000 pph at 300 kts with 6 pallets. Need a jet that will burn 8-10,000 pph at 440 kts with 8-10 pallets. Kinda like a fuel efficient version of an A model C-141.

As boring as all this airlift talk is, it's logistic efficiency that allows victory in all but the shortest of conflicts.