F-35 Fighters Are Grounded

[-tronski-]

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2013/02/18/3690317.htm

A recent 4Corners report on the F-35 and its problems includes Lockheed Martin reps, USAF & RAAF reps, Airpower Australia analysts etc

 Tronsky

[GScholz]

Here is what I see, from a Maintainer point of view (Crew Chief of AF-03)

Alot of what I read on here is crazy. Some of the things people come up with. The F-35 is following along with every other plane that has been developed. They all have been over priced and over budget. Its going to happen. Deal with it. We are constantly working to make these planes better and better. Right now we are down for a 3rd stage cracked blade out of AF-02. Who knows how it happened. Could be a bad blade or could be just one of those freak things that happen. Cracked blades in jet engines occur a little more than what people think (talking about all jet powered aircraft in general). Its a safty precaution to ground the fleet till this gets sorted out and the problem fixed. Better to get it taken care of then to possibly lose a jet and/or a life of a pilot. So just because you hear that the fleet is grounded, dont take it as a bad thing. 

Most people tend to hate on things they dont really understand cause they read a few negative things online or in a paper or magazine. Dont believe everything you read. Our program is making great strides, and out of the 50,000 or so test points we have over 20,000 accomplished. We still have a long way to go, but we are making it happen.

I cant really go into much detail, but have the things in here are not true that people say. Just call it a little insider info........

 

[GScholz]

The nations Norway bombed could have been bombed by P-47s. OK I am exaggerating, but they were so badly outclassed that an even more superior technology is not required.

Let's see, one of those nations shot down an F-117 (another damaged), one F-16 (even made the movies), plus two A-10s and a couple of Mirages damaged...

[GScholz]

They can do it now. In a lot of ways they already are

The technology is there, but not the will. The use of armed drones is so controversial that there is an international drive to get them banned. It wont happen of course, but it will take a long while before armed supersonic drones replaces the manned fighter.

[GScholz]

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2013/02/18/3690317.htm

A recent 4Corners report on the F-35 and its problems includes Lockheed Martin reps, USAF & RAAF reps, Airpower Australia analysts etc

 Tronsky

I lasted to just over 3 minutes. I wanted to turn it off at about the 1:50 mark. So full of factual errors and typical media nonsense.

There simply is no balanced media piece on the F-35 that I have seen yet.

[danny76]

I lasted to just over 3 minutes. I wanted to turn it off at about the 1:50 mark. So full of factual errors and typical media nonsense.

There simply is no balanced media piece on the F-35 that I have seen yet.

Its a conspiracy I tell thee!

[GScholz]

Not so much a conspiracy as a popular news item to be negative about. Everyone who actually knows something about the project like beau32 here and our own pilots are dismissed and not given any air time (hell, some people here even dismiss them), while your typical TV "talking heads", who really knows nothing about the aircraft, gets to spout all their negative nonsense. It's a self feeding loop of negative reporting.

[Bodhi]

Beau32, I appreciate your point of view, and I understand your support of the program.  It is something you work on and are proud of.  So please, nothing is directed at you.  As most of us are not in your unique situation, we have to read and observe what we see through media outlets to get our news.  What I see is a bit worrisome.

There is no "hate" from me on the F35.  Rather, it is concern for a program that is far surpassing its original costs, consistently failing to meet time schedules, may not meet the expected life cycle which means increased costs, and there is valid concern over whether it will actually perform as advertised.  I think too many are giving the program a pass because it is so innovative and employs so many.  That is not acceptable.  The F35 program is the most expensive weapons procurement program in history.  People need to let that sink in and realize that a program that is in the trillions of dollars in total cost and likely to rise is not something to take lightly.  Add to that that several of the proposed member countries in the F35 are starting to evaluate their decisions to make firm orders.  That will increase per unit costs as more and more countries pair down their orders or eliminate them all together. 

This program is an extravagance that the US can ill afford, especially with proven "better" weapons systems already fielded.

[icepac]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
crappy iphone 5 is timeslicing my internet after update to new ios.

Apple is for chumps.

[nrshida]

Everyone who actually knows something about the project like beau32 here and our own pilots are dismissed....

A lot of people who are in the know are also critical. Your statement is as misleading as those who are critical without any knowledge. You should watch the Nova documentary, it was compelling enough to make the Dutch parliament think twice.

Anyway I've just phoned Lockheed Martin and told them about you GScholz. They were so impressed with your enthusiasm they asked if you could start in PR and Marketing next Monday morning. Apparently they have a lot of vacancies because they had to transfer most people to the complaints department.

[icepac]

crappy iphone 5 is timeslicing my internet after update to new ios.

Apple is for chumps.

[icepac]

So which two planes do you guys suggest that can perform the missions that the F35 can with the same performance and capability?

You will need two.......maybe three.

One that can fight.

One that can take off vertically or on a short carrier.

One that can carry 6 x 2000lb bombs.

Please present your alternatives that offer the same or better performance in these mission roles.

[GScholz]

Lies, Damn Lies, and the Trillion-Dollar F-35...

Bodhi, the oft-claimed program cost of more than a trillion Dollars is nothing more than BS from people who have little, or no idea of what they're talking about. The one+ trillion is the estimated lifetime cost of the program, not the procurement cost. Further more the number itself is hardly worth the paper it is printed on; it counts every possible cost to operate and modernize the F-35 during a 25-year production run, followed by a 30-year operational life. It represents a half-century’s worth of fuel, parts, upgrades, and even related ground infrastructure construction costs. However, the trillion dollar number is undeniably a useful stick with which to flog the F-35 and defense spending in general.

[GScholz]

A lot of people who are in the know are also critical.

Name one.

[nrshida]

Name one.

Pierre Sprey.