F-35 "lighting II"?

[Debonair]

aparently Lockheed is looking into making this plane work unmanned, so maybe "Lightning Zero" would be teh gud name

or maybe "goose egg"

[dynamt]

"The only limiting factors I've heard about the human link is the G-load limitations on the human body & the fatigue factor"

How about weight and space.  No cockpit equals big gains in those areas, with dramatic effect on the entire airframe.

[Tac]

"But I agree it's a bad idea not to have specialized A/C like the A-10's etc. Because then all an enemy has to do is figure out a way to defeat one type of bird or design a weapon specifically to deal with that one type & they have all the services licked."

Very true. Very very true.

I think the F-35 (I like the name 'Fury' better... Its original and descriptive of a little plane full of good stuff'!) should become the 'all purpose' fighter for all services and each service should have a 'dedicated' plane of its own.

Air Force needs to have air superiority fighter. No bombing or ground attack crap just pure air dominance. Think F15 with stealth tech.

Navy needs a very long range interceptor Think F-14 with stealth tech

Marines need the best fighter/bomber they can get. I think Marines can forego the stealth part (the F-35 can be their stealth toy) and have this plane be one badass plane for support of the ground troops. Think A-10 / F14 hybrid.