So...is the F-35 a good plane, or is it a dud?
I have spoken with many pilots who have been involved in the bed down of initial wings and like all pilots, the like a fun toy and new stuff.
They want to modify it even before they get it, that should answer your question. It is a way overpriced turkey.
dud
My take is there are too many compromises between the Air Force version, Navy version, and the VTOL version.
It’s like taking a Corvette and giving it a Pickup Truck option. It will never do either right.
I think it's likely a great plane, even a phenomenal airplane that will be around for a long time.
It's not the "big motor in a little body" hot rod pony car that the F-16 is, at least, not as far as we know.
It's more like a mid-size hot rod. Think big block GTO, Regal/Cutlass or Charger instead of a Camaro or Mustang.
It's a stealthy air frame tightly wrapped around a very BIG and powerful motor, but also with lots of interior room for the biggest, baddest computer brain and sensors available now and well into the future, plus the interior room for lots of special delivery gifts for the enemy,too!
The F-16 is a P-51 meets F-86 fully evolved in the 20th century.
The F-35 seems more like the 21st century love child of the P-47 and the F-105, with a little Harrier DNA thrown in just to make it interesting.
Personally, I think the F-35 will make its pilots, its maintainers and mission planners everywhere very happy.