Posted on 01/27/2010 9:21:41 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Vaporware? They’ve been saying this for...2 years? More.
Yeah, yeah, post the picture of it when it actually does fly....by the end of this month.
I don’t think it’s vaporware. They’re supposed to have three prototypes ready (one of which is non-flying IIRC). Also, the Indians are also involved via the related FGFA program, and have seen the fighter. I, for one, can’t wait to see pics. I have to admit, after all the anticipation, I’ll be bummed out if it looks like a Raptor knockoff. I’d much prefer it to look greatly different, or at least be a YF-23 knockoff.
Har har. On a serious note, I wouldn’t expect to hear any public admission of a serious failure like that. Bulava’s embarrassing enough, and IMHO PAK-FA’s much more important from a PR perspective (not to mention a financial perspective).
I’ll go with financial perspective at this point. I have grave concerns with our procurement and R&D pipeline under this administration for continued air superiority.
Me too. I also have concerns about the F-35’s abilities as a jack-of-all trades (from what I’ve read, not that I know that there’s any basis for concern). In the F-16, it has some pretty big shoes to fill IMHO.
It seems like the Russians are always just on the cusp of doing something really great, and it never happens. I wonder why that is?
Since there is very little in the way of positive, actual information being released about the F-35, I will tell you this, when the flight testing is complete and she shows you what she can do, your concerns will be addressed.
The F-16 is a proven platform and history bears this out. But it has been modified to the max. It’s design has limited what can be done to the aircraft, same as the other aircraft the F-35 is destined to replace.
What will you say in 20 years when the F-35 has proven its mettle and its replacement is being discussed? We go through this almost every time a new design is presented.
It is a phenomenal aircraft and has capabilities engineered into it that put most of the current aircraft out there to pasture. It’s no F-22 and isn’t meant to be, but it will do its job extremely well.
The problem people get into in addressing the F-35 is the fact that this society is an instant gratification type of society. They want it now. Nobody seems to have the patience to wait and see the aircraft prove itself. There have only been two deliveries to PAX (STOVL) and they are in envelope expansion mode right now. Flight testing will accelerate once the mission systems ships arrive.
It’s not your daddy’s A-10, F-16, F-18, etc. It is a multirole fighter, similar to the F-16/F-18. It’s the avionics and mission systems that make this aircraft really special.
It’s an aircraft that many militaries obviously have a lot of confidence in. That’s got to say something, or they’d be buying Eurofighters.
SZ
F-25=F-35
Per the thread I’m following here, http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?149828-Sukhoi-T-50-PAK-FA/page135, the first flight was supposed to take place on Thursday (local time (KnAAPO) in the Russian Far East), but this was pushed back a day. They don’t have many days left if they’re really going to make this latest deadline.
>Yeah, yeah, post the picture of it when it actually does fly....by the end of this month.
Pictures??? It’s top secret until first test flight. Photo and video leaks are prohibited.
yeah like sending the first man into space, building the first space station, stuff like that... they never do follow up on their promises, do they
You're talking about the Soviets... That's another matter altogether...
You ever heard the internet saying: No screenshot, did not happen?
No picture(s) of this thing flying, did not happen. :)
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