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FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
buffnut453
Captain
Wouldn't mind the tweeting so much if the info imparted was even remotely accurate - maybe a bit more "ready" and "aim" before the "fire" (or should that be "tweet"....then again, "ready, aim...tweet" just doesn't have the right ring to it).
While it's fair to say the F-35 program has suffered from cost control issues in the past, I don't think that's the case today, indeed expenditure seems to be under pretty tight control these days (from my layperson's perspective). Unfortunately, this will likely launch another round of bad news stories that rehash outdated and/or incorrect info.
While it's fair to say the F-35 program has suffered from cost control issues in the past, I don't think that's the case today, indeed expenditure seems to be under pretty tight control these days (from my layperson's perspective). Unfortunately, this will likely launch another round of bad news stories that rehash outdated and/or incorrect info.
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Old Wizard
2nd Lieutenant
Israel just got their first two.
aurora-7
Airman
He tweets like it's a reflex and he's also shown that he'll back away from previous statements. It's possible when it's 'explained' to him what the F-35 means in terms of jobs and a military requirement he'll avoid pursuing any program cuts.
michaelmaltby
Colonel
.... it's Trump 'declaring'himself .... policy will be pragmatic. He ain't a fool. The F-35 programing is/has proven itself. Most telling is how the F-35 enhances allied F-15s/16s/18s etc. In market-speak the F-35 adds value ..... language Mr. Trump understands 
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FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Once "Mad Dog" sits is ass down and tells him to STFU, he'll see the light! I don't want to get political here but the man's mouth is nuclear powered.
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vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Very interesting, thanks for posting that.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Amazing that the F-35B is doing so well, I would have thought that it would have been the real problem child. IMO the issues with the F-35C are fixable.
Glider
Captain
Its also worth noting that the F35 has already begun integration testing for the RN's new carriers based on a land based ramp which is of the same configeration as the carriers.
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FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
"They have not lost a single sortie to a maintenance issue and have a 92 percent mission-capable rate, said 1st Lt. Devin Ferguson, assistant officer in charge of the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. Legacy aircraft average 70 to 85 percent mission-capable, according to the U.S. Air Force."
buffnut453
Captain
I'm really confused by the heading to that article. Clearly there are questions about how the kill ratio was calculated but that's a long way from "most probably thanks to the supporting F-22". The article suggests that the ratio may be a team score with F-22s providing OCA while the F-35s are in a ground attack role ("the F-22s take care of the aggressors whilst the F-35s slip undetected through the surface-to-air defenses until it reaches the position to drop munitions at the target"). Then, a couple of paragraphs later on, the article quotes Lt Col Watkins, 34th FS/CC saying ""The first day we were here, we flew defensive counter-air and we didn't lose a single friendly aircraft," Now, last time I checked, one didn't have escorts when flying DCA missions. Am I the only one picking up (yet again) the negative bias in this reporting?
buffnut453
Captain
Red Flag debrief for the press...if anyone's interested:
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
I saw that too - I guess we'll have to see in what scenarios this kill ratio was established. Did the F-22s "allow" the aggressors to penetrate their CAP or was this a joint F-22/ F-35 action, or did the F-35 defend itself alone? To be honest I'm more impressed about the FMC rates, these days keeping these aircraft MC is more difficult than dealing with the "enemy."
To come out with these scores during Red Flag is a testament of the progress made by the F-35 program. Little is said about this in the news, because it now contradicts the negative media bias that was blatantly directed against this aircraft, now I hope the nay-Sayers, especially Pierre Sprey will finally STFU and go sit in a corner.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Good luck with that...they'll just spin it a different way (or many different ways) because they'll fight to the death supporting their position before they would even consider the thought that they may have been wrong.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Well you can't let facts and data get in your way!
