Testing bore out the fact, early in the process, that that wouldn't work. History has shown us that these attempts aren't always failures.
Posted on 05/11/2010 4:54:03 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Aviation Week suspends Bill Sweetman from F-35 story
[Update: Bill Sweetman's Facebook post, which I quoted below, is the reason he's temporarily barred from the F-35 beat, Aviation Week tells Danger Room. The plot thickens. It makes you wonder if one of his 91 Facebook friends tattled on him.]
Bill Sweetman notified me this morning that he has been temporarily ordered off the F-35 story by Aviation Week management.
Aviation Week editor Tony Velocci initially told me "no comment", but added: "It was supposed to be an internal personnel matter but I'm really sorry to hear that he's spreading it around."
Sweetman is the editor of Defense Technology International, a monthly magazine published by the Aviation Week Group.
It's not clear what immediately precipitated the decision. But Sweetman is well-known as arguably one of the most outspoken -- and, it should be said, well-spoken -- critics of the F-35 program.
Lockheed Martin denies having any role in Sweetman's removal from the F-35 beat. "I can tell you Lockheed was not behind this," a spokesman says.
Sweetman recently visited Lockheed's F-35 factory in Fort Worth, Texas, along with Velocci and Aviation Week staff writer Amy Butler. On the eve of his visit, Sweetman on 26 April posted a typically droll comment on his private Facebook page:
"Gentlemen, your target for tonight is Fort Worth. Flacks are predicted to be numerous and persistent on the run-in and over the target, and bullshit is expected to be dense throughout the mission. Synchronize watches and good luck."
Full disclosure: Sweetman is a personal friend and former co-worker at Jane's. As a military technology journalist, I have great respect for his vast and detailed knowledge of weapon systems of all kinds.
But Sweetman himself would tell you he approaches F-35 coverage unlike other journalists. I see my role as simply to report the facts offered by both critics and supporters, allowing my readers to draw their own conclusions. Sweetman approaches F-35 coverage from the standpoint of an analyst who has empirically concluded the program is a flop. That position is always going to create a tension with his traditional role as journalist.
Update: Lockheed Martin has released a full statement:
"Lockheed Martin has not asked Aviation Week to take disciplinary action against Bill Sweetman nor have we asked that he be removed from reporting on the F-35 program or any other Lockheed Martin program. In fact on April 27 Bill and other members of the Aviation Week staff visited Lockheed Martin facilities in Fort Worth for briefings on the F-35 program. We have a longstanding professional relationship with the entire Aviation Week editorial staff, including Bill Sweetman, and we continue to work openly with them on all programs, including F-35."
Sweetman is always someone to read. I find it interesting (or maybe I am not seeing it) that the F-35 has had a smaller press profile than the F-22 in development, but that maybe a sign of the times.
But my concern is trying to get one airframe to do everything smells of the Naval Variant of the F-111 and McNamara's mindset on airframes. I hope history is not being repeated here.
I have aero-engineer friends that are no longer in the business. I would love to have them see it fly (or even me) to get a gut feel if this thing is a kludge, sometimes you can tell just by watching them fly....
Aviation Week is only one example of how STUPID conservatives are. 75% of the workers in aerospace are conservative, yet they are too STUPID to realize that the prime magazine covering their field would prefer that they’d be left out to rot. You’d think that SOMEONE could start a magazine in the same area, and at least be neutral. It’s bad enough in the regular media.
just curious... what’s wrong with the F-22... and why should it be replaced by the F-35?... imho the F-22 is (right now)as good as it gets...
One size fits all solutions never work whether you'r talking hammers or H-bombs.
F-35 is not replacing the F-22. F-22 is primarily an air superiority asset that can perform strike missions.
The F-35 is primarily an attack aircraft that can defend itself in the air. Believe it or not, ‘they’ believe the F-35 can replace the A-10 for close air support roles. The A-10 is designed to absorb tremendous AAA damage and keep on flying. The F-35 lacks that armour and durability.
The F-35 is a multi-role platform, just like the F-18E is. Essentially that means it will be good to adequate for many roles, but outstanding at none. The F-22 clearly is outstanding at ACM (air combat maneuvering) and air superiority roles. It’ll also excel in recon roles.
There may even be a wide choice of colors. We can make this airplane work. Honest.
IMHO, 100 F-16's would be a better idea than 1 F-35. Besides, can the F-35 be flown as an UAV? Can it really carry heavy enough undercarriaging to land on a carrier? Does it come with leather? So many questions, so little time. Well I admit I was wrong about the Osprey. Maybe.
All your answers about internal stores and external hardpoints are belong to us at this link:
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0163.shtml
enjoy ;-)
Is there a trailer hitch option, so I could carry a few more rounds? BTW, I noticed on the site you so kindly referenced, that my new F-35 is a very "cost-effective option." Is that for a certified used plane, or are we talking new? When does it become cost-effective? After the first 100,000 units are delivered? If I were Lockheed, I wouldn't count on the Greek order, BTW.
I will buy the close support version, providing it comes with an open cockpit so I can fire my captured RPG from the driver's seat. Also, it seems that if I want to take my golf clubs, I'll have to leave a missile or two behind. Bummer, Dude. I do like the big gas tank, though.
thank you for the essence of your information... i am concerned that our current administration is not too keen on keeping US the most powerful military force on this planet... and with this in mind, all spending and dicussion of such, keeps me interested, looking for red flags...
by the by... watching the F-22 doing it’s maneuvers, all I can say is WOW! There are patriotic folks looking out for US...folks that still put their right hand over their heart.
Alas, the F-35, new or certified pre-flown (AKA the Family Truckster) does many things well, but none superbly.
http://www.playerpress.com/uploads/Image/vacation%20truckster.jpg
Testing bore out the fact, early in the process, that that wouldn't work. History has shown us that these attempts aren't always failures.
A-10s excel in low threat environments but are IR MANPAD magnets and have poor climb to altitude performance. In the early stages of a fight they'll sustain heavy losses until the AAA threat is largely suppressed.
By the way, more A-10s were lost during Desert Storm the AV-8Bs.
Slight disagreement — the placement of the engines and the twin vertical stabilizers of the A-10 were part of the design intent to place the brightest IR signature slightly behind the actual aircraft, in theory decreasing the IR signature as well. In reality any ‘jet’ that is low and slow will be an IR MANPAD magnet. (And even an F-35 has a time to altitude/ climb rate well below that of a ‘Stinger’.)
AND, A-10s were designed to thwart/slow a Soviet armoured advance through the Fulda gap, where Zsu’s and SAMs would be ferocious.
WRT Harriers v. A-10s — we’d have to compare sortie rates, numbers and missions to go apples to apples on loss rates to AAA/SAMs.
The A-10s absorbed a LOT of AAA strikes and completed the mission. I don’t think an AV-8 could claim the same. But I am convince-able.
Full disclosure — I am an A-10 fan. Can you tell?
The AV-8B loss rate per sortie during Desert Storm was twice that of the A/OA-10.
Found this table about loss rates. Thought you might find it interesting. Note NO AAA losses for A-10s ... ALL were IR SAMs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.