F-35s over the Florida Panhandle.
Posted on 02/06/2016 7:44:03 AM PST by don-o
The Pentagon's top weapons tester has condemned aspects of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in a new report, raising questions about the $1.5-trillion effort's ability to meet its already slipped production schedule, synthesize information on the battlefield and keep aircraft available to fly.
The 82-page report was distributed to Congress last month, and released publicly this week. It was completed by Michael Gilmore, the Pentagon's director of operational test and evaluation. He reports directly to Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, and carries out independent assessments for both Carter and members of Congress.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
It tries to be all things to all branches, making it a Ferrari-dumptruck-schoolbus...
From what I have heard, the F-35 doesn’t stand a chance against an F-16 in head to head combat.
It is the millenial F-111.
Posted some time back from a different source.
F-35s over the Florida Panhandle.
The F-111 evolved into a very good deep penetrating strike fighter, and a damn fine tank plinker during Desert Storm.
I’m sure the F-35 will also evolve into a great strike fighter - right about the time it is ready for retirement.
Does it have a gun - no gun no good. Go fly the robot instead
So sorry. I missed it. My son may be flying one of these, so I do have an interest.
Now, really gotta go.
Get him into an F-22 or A10 he’ll have more fun.
Are those F-35s climbing, or is that their normal angle of attack for level flight? Or are they in slow flight mode?
Newer is not always better, IMO.
Are these the same Naysayers who claimed the F15 Eagle and A10 were Goldplated and that we didn’t need because they were so expensive?
I guess after the first Gulf War they changed their tune.
All Aircraft and technologies have development issues.Nothing is a sure bet.
Even during the 50’s the AirForce and Navy were developing multiple Fighter variants and abandoning them just as fast at great expense.
I don’t know. It is an Air Force Photo.
I did take several myself at Eglin of an F-15 flying with two P-51s. I noticed the F-15 was pointed up a bit probably in order to maintain the slow speed.
somewhere, PukinDog is laughing...
Active Duty ping.
it's no F-4 that's for sure...
Slow flight is only slightly faster than stall speed. Very unstable, control surfaces lose a lot of efficiency.
When the B-52 first became operational, the only aerial refuelers were KC-97’s or KB-29’s. Footage of a B-52 struggling to maintain contact with the fueling probe while not stalling out is hair raising to watch.
IMO the Boeing 707 was rushed into production in order to become the KC-135, which made refueling in flight for B-52’s a whole lot easier.
Didn’t t know they came in four sizes
My SIL works on this program. I will say it’s a “jobs program” for engineers and technicians. I realize that’s not justification for the $$ spent.
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