The F35 can fly in bad weather near thunderstorms just fine. No plane can fly through a thunderstorm without extreme risk of loss of flight control or structural failure.
If you read the Forbes article, the problem is that the system that protects the fuel tank from static explosions has shown some wear on its tubing that might lead to failure. Until this safety flight restriction is lifted, the F35’s need to avoid lightning strikes which occur up to 25 miles away from the thunderstorm cell. Once they determine why the tubing is wearing and replace it, the F35 can be certified to return to normal operational status including flying anywhere they damn well need to fly.
Why the pilot said he “lost it in the bad weather” is a mystery. It has nothing to do with the fuel tank flight restrictions.
He was flying at a very low altitude with no civil or military transponder turned on. This is very suspicious. I don’t believe the military can do this within civil airspace (not a MOA Military Operations Area). If he was flying straight and level with a good engine, I don’t know what “lost it in bad weather” means. This doesn’t sound like a typical eject scenario due to loss of flight control or compressor stall (flame out) at low altitude.
You do realize that is utter and complete hogwash, don't you?
There are other lightning related issues with the “Lightning II” (F-35)...outer “stealth” skin damage, “brain box”(ALIS) damage as well as the nitrogen inerting (OBIGGS) issue...
“...the F-35’s outer skin is coated in a composite metal structure that “does not provide inherent passive lightning protection,” according to a Marine Corps request for portable lightning rods. This lack of inherent protection means that F-35s must be accompanied by lightning rods when they’re parked outside at bases that lack the necessary infrastructure to protect them. It’s unknown if the new OBIGGS fix will remove the need for lightning rods.”
“Air Force Times reports that a previously undisclosed lightning strike occurred in August 2021 when an F-35A was struck in midair. The jet’s canopy and body panels suffered damage requiring between $600,000 and $2.5 million to repair.”
Re: 32 - thanks for a well informed post, which is welcome in a sea of ignorant posts on this thread.