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Yeah she is a looker (and is a performer from the sounds of things).
Very perceptive my young friend! I know people who worked both programs and there was some concern about the F-35 performing "too well."one cannot help but think that with all the hype about the F-35 perhaps the americans have shot themselves in the foot with the F-22, with everything being said about the abilities of the F-35 is the F-22 really needed? yes she is a better dogfighter of which there is little doubt but is she gooe enough to justify maintaining a fleet of both?
Very perceptive my young friend! I know people who worked both programs and there was some concern about the F-35 performing "too well."
Those running the F-35 are under continual pressure to keep the program on schedule and on budget - something that did not happen on the F-22, at least not in the early days of production (1996). I think eventually many in Congress will ask "Do we really need both aircraft." The USAF is selling its soul to get both of these aircraft on line and many careers are at stake.
BTW the first F-35 flight test did go well despite the flight sortie being cut short. My rumor source tells me the problem was in some of the test equipment, not the aircraft...
Thus the need to placate the UK. We need them for the STOVL.
My "rumor sources" don't want to say much, but you're on the right track...I understand that the test flight was shortened due to the undercarridge not being able to retract. It could easily have been a faulty guage or reading but understandably they were not going to take chances on the first flight.
Actually the first flight of the X-35 they sucked the gear up and I think went mach 1.1!!!Don't they normally do the first couple of flights with the gear down normally? I remember seeing something about that once, they do it just in case.