somewhere, PukinDog is laughing...Why do we even bother to trust Lockheed Martin ?
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/6839/the-navys-f-35c-has-a-major-nose-gear-problem
t gives pilots one hell of a ride down the catapult track.
More than a decade after the Lockheed Martin F-35 began flight testing, the Navy’s catapult launch and barrier recovery (CATOBAR) variant, the F-35C, remains mired with teething issues. Now, one problem appears to be more debilitating than previously realized, and it’s rearing its head at a critical phase of flight for any Navy fighter—the catapult launch.
The issue occurs when a lightly loaded F-35C’s landing gear nose strut is compressed while the jet throttles up, right before launch. As the catapult fires and the hold back bar is released, the jet is rapidly pulled forward, during which time the strut oscillates violently up and down. The bouncing continues as the aircraft proceeds down the catapult track at increasing speed.
Very compelling, imo.
Methinks two things: CIC Trump and SOD Mattis will take appropriate action, and maybe it’s time to short LMT.
These boys mean business, and are not to be fooled with.
I think its a worthless turkey.
This thing ain’t getting cancelled. Ever.
Too much invested, too much at stake.
I think the F-35 will be substantially cut back. We may see a major rebuild program for the AV-8B Harrier II and the USAF may get upgraded F-16’s (essentially using the radar from the F-35A and a derivative of the F-35A’s engine).
Do not stick to bad decision because it’s already cost too much
A software project where the deadline is 5 years in the future is a software project that will never be operational.
F-35 suffers from Congress as much as from the aerospace industry. There is no way that Lockheed, Boeing, or any of the builders would end up here had they had their own way.
But, to keep Congress critters happy, all sorts of compromises were made to keep the program going forward. While much of this article is 100% accurate, the conclusion about whether the F-35 is needed is really a military decision. Our forces are left with this program as their only option for fighting the next battles (Since the F-22 program was scuttled prematurely).
not the tool we would want, but our guys will make it work. Unfortunately though, more good guys are going to get killed than they would otherwise. We have bet the farm and young patriots’ lives on semi-stealth attack fighters that can counter drones and active air defenses. The Russians and Syrians saw how that worked a few months ago when F-22’s penetrated and struck targets undetected. Now, if only F-35’s could do the same. We’ll see.
It’s by far the best plane out there for dogfighting and tactical bombing. Killing it after all this time when it’s finally starting to roll out is pure idiocy.
The F-35 was designed to fail. In the world of federal government military procurement that means mountains of money spread out over decades.
The F-35 program showcases all that is wrong about our politically-dominated, bureaucratic procurement system.
There, fixed it.
I am getting tired of ignorant attacks on the PRODUCERS in this country who are trying to meet the needs of our nation, when its the politicized procurement system that is the real problem. If you want to know why things cost so much, look at how ridiculous the customer requirements get, and how many times the goal post is moved during development.
Stop pointing at the contractor. The contractor is delivering what the govt asked for, even if it asked for a solid gold hammer. The contractor, in this case LM, is simply running a business, something Trump understands.
Update the A-10 for ground support roles.
somewhere, PukinDog is laughing...