The F-35 thread

Interesting interview with an F35 pilot.


His description of fighting against 4th gen planes is quite an eye-opener, “it’s like clubbing baby seals”.
 
A total of 46 F-35 stealth fighters are currently without functioning engines due to an ongoing problem with the heat-protective coating on their turbine rotor blades becoming worn out faster than was expected. With the engine maintenance center now facing a backlog on repair work, frontline F-35 fleets have been hit, with the U.S. Air Force’s fleet facing the most significant availability shortfall.
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Source

I also saw on my twitter feed (can't find the link again) that the hourly flight costs on the F-35 has significantly reduced over the last couple of years.
 
Pegasus said:
Japan's Izumo testing the F35


Longer version
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Gotta love the way they call their new carriers "Helicopter Destroyers" to get around the pesky offensive weapons conditions set in the treaty they signed after WW2 :ROFL:

jjajad92.jpg
 
This thread has gone awful quiet. Something for you guys to discuss:
www.bbc.com

Probe after British F-35 fighter crashes in Mediterranean

The pilot ejected and has safely returned to the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the MoD says.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
The pilot ejected and has safely returned to the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and an investigation has begun, the MoD added.

The incident occurred at 10:00 GMT over international waters and no other aircraft were involved.
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Since the pilot was British I am surprised that he didn't do an emergency landing on an container ship.
 
Arthur said:
Hehe, that's for sure. £200m, ka-ching. Plus the cost of guarding the wreck in the Med and then raising it intact. Can't have adversaries mounting their own Glomar Explorer operation.
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Article says £100m. Either way, that's a boatload of money.

Other thing I didn't realise is this thing only carries 2 missiles and 2 bombs, that's not exactly loaded
 
Speedster said:
Article says £100m. Either way, that's a boatload of money.

Other thing I didn't realise is this thing only carries 2 missiles and 2 bombs, that's not exactly loaded
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Yeah, that's the cost for one.
It's £100m for the one they lost (presumably now a write-off) and another £100m to replace it.
 
Speedster said:
Article says £100m. Either way, that's a boatload of money.

Other thing I didn't realise is this thing only carries 2 missiles and 2 bombs, that's not exactly loaded
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Internal stores only. All stealth aircraft are severely limited what they can carry internally. The F-23 Black Widow had a B-1 type rotary bomb bay which gave it quite a payload but it lost to the F-22.
 
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