The “F-35 can’t beat an F-16” mantra was based upon initial test flight with a restricted flight envelope. I can’t believe people are still parroting that old story.
Egh. They are.
Problem is, there are people who are bugged out that the F-35 cannot fly circles around older planes.
Probably the same kind of people who complained that a guided missle cruiser with missiles that have advanced seeking and 200 mile range doesn’t have the “Throw weight” of an Iowa class battleship.