The F-35 thread

Well the original F-16 was a hack job and some sources will be nice.

The F-16 is known in Air Force circles as the “lawn dart” for its tendency to plunge back to Earth when its single engine flames out, and in most years, engine failure causes more accidents than any other factor. But pilot error was responsible for about the same number of F-16 accidents as engine failure in the past year.

Source
 
Well done, and yet now the f16 is considered one of the best 4th gen fighters around...

It was a hack job with the sole goal of developing a small air to air capable fighter which succeeded and not at an everything to everyone aircraft leading to a mediocre at everything aircraft.
 
It was a hack job with the sole goal of developing a small air to air capable fighter which succeeded and not at an everything to everyone aircraft leading to a mediocre at everything aircraft.

And yet your "mediocre at everything aircraft" kills everything that goes up against it in the various war games the US and allies fly...
 
Good read.

So, the American people must to spend billions of dollars for a stealth capability our potential adversaries can defeat with only millions of dollars? That math doesn’t add up.

Source
 
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Yep, some people really truly believe the Americans and the Brits and the Australians and the Japanese and the Israelis, etc have a penchant for buying dud war machines. :p

As Dave123 says, does not compute.
 
Here's a 2013 article that criticises a very similar War is Boring crapotorial, could have been written for the one above. Same "experts" opinions were used then...

http://whythef35.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/f-35-critics-still-dont-realize-that-f.html

I really laughed at this in the warisboring link:

Upon closer inspection, they found insulation wrapped around coolant lines had disintegrated because a subcontractor failed to use the proper sealant. Contractors will have to devise, test and then put into place fixes to all of these problems throughout the fleet of aircraft Lockheed has already produced and purchased.

This is a costly process. The Government Accountability Office calls this the “concurrency tax.”

The GAO has estimated this cost has already come to $1.7 billion. More, much more, is to come, especially judging from reports from Pentagon’s top tester that many longstanding problems remain unresolved.

Considering the fix for the incorrect insulation was rolled out and completed in November (and wasn't paid for by the buyers).

WASHINGTON: Israel and Japan are likely to get their first F-35 Joint Strike Fighters on schedule, and the Air Force‘s operational F-35s should be flying by the end of this year without faulty insulation in fuel pipes that could damage the aircraft, the F-35 Joint Program Office says.

“Rapid progress is being made in fixing 15 operational F-35A aircraft needing modifications to repair non-compliant Polyalphaolefin (PAO) coolant tubes,” the JPO said in a statement. “Modifications started 7 October on the first four aircraft and the work takes about three weeks to complete. All 15 aircraft are expected to fly again by the end of the year.”

Flight operations for the 15 F-35A aircraft were suspended in September following an inspection and discovery of debris in the fuel tank of an F-35A aircraft. A supplier provided insulation that disintegrated when immersed in fuel. Neither the JPO nor Lockheed martin have identified the supplier, which continues to provide the program with insulation. It’s unlikely they’ll make the same mistake twice.
http://breakingdefense.com/2016/10/f-35-insulation-fix-all-air-force-planes-fixed-by-end-of-year/

Supplier makes cock up and uses the incorrect insulation, problem is fixed at suppliers expense in weeks, idiots say it makes the f35 a bad plane :crylaugh:
 
Here's a 2013 article that criticises a very similar War is Boring crapotorial, could have been written for the one above. Same "experts" opinions were used then...

http://whythef35.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/f-35-critics-still-dont-realize-that-f.html

I really laughed at this in the warisboring link:



Considering the fix for the incorrect insulation was rolled out and completed in November (and wasn't paid for by the buyers).


http://breakingdefense.com/2016/10/f-35-insulation-fix-all-air-force-planes-fixed-by-end-of-year/

Supplier makes cock up and uses the incorrect insulation, problem is fixed at suppliers expense in weeks, idiots say it makes the f35 a bad plane :crylaugh:

Kinda bad when it grounds the fleet because those debris end up in the fuel tank...
 
Here's a 2013 article that criticises a very similar War is Boring crapotorial, could have been written for the one above. Same "experts" opinions were used then...

http://whythef35.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/f-35-critics-still-dont-realize-that-f.html

I really laughed at this in the warisboring link:



Considering the fix for the incorrect insulation was rolled out and completed in November (and wasn't paid for by the buyers).


http://breakingdefense.com/2016/10/f-35-insulation-fix-all-air-force-planes-fixed-by-end-of-year/

Supplier makes cock up and uses the incorrect insulation, problem is fixed at suppliers expense in weeks, idiots say it makes the f35 a bad plane :crylaugh:
I take exception to the use of the word operational.

No F-35 can operate currently as designed. Block 3F software only due in 2018.

The software required for IOT&E - Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation ...
 
I take exception to the use of the word operational.

No F-35 can operate currently as designed. Block 3F software only due in 2018.

The software required for IOT&E - Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation ...

You'll have to argue with the USAF over that point. They were the ones to designate it as operational.

WASHINGTON — The US Air Force on Tuesday declared its first squadron of F-35As ready for battle, 15 years after Lockheed Martin won the contract to make the plane.

The milestone means that the service can now send its first operational F-35 formation — the 34th Fighter Squadron located at Hill Air Force Base, Utah — into combat operations anywhere in the world. The service, which plans to buy 1,763 F-35As, is the single-largest customer of the joint strike fighter program, which also includes the US Marine Corps, US Navy and a host of governments worldwide.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/br...oc-air-force-operational-acc-combat/87948142/
 
and when you've finished arguing with the USAF you'll have to go argue with the Marines as well, they have 2 operational f35 squadrons (their designation) as well now, transition from AV-8B Harriers is complete for both.

The Marine Corps’ second F-35B Joint Strike Fighter squadron stood up today, as the AV-8B Harrier-flying Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 211 became Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211.

A re-designation and change of command ceremony was held at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona today, with Lt. Col. William Maples taking command of the second operational JSF squadron. The squadron flew its final Harrier flight on May 6 and received its first two JSFs three days later.

https://news.usni.org/2016/05/13/3r...older-planes-ready-an-operational-perspective
 
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