Good, I finally got you to admit that everything the USAF says is not a lie.
And now you just need to understand that everything the USAF says is not necessarily the truth. It'll be an important step. I am not hopeful.
There is very little technical data about the F-35 aside from general numbers...The only known characteristics of the plane are some known data points on the aircraft's thrust, weight, wing loading, AoA clearance, and simple stuff like that.
Exactly; what is out there can't even be 100% verified. We know what they decided to tell us. That's all.
And lastly, you are awfully negative about the planes future for someone who ALSO doesn't have the data you claim the rest of us don't. It is completely rational to form an opinion based on the information that is available: much of which is known for a fact.
Here's some rational information that is available and known for a fact. Every modern military jet aircraft that has been touted as the Swiss Army Knife of the air, the airplane that can do every mission with élan and great success.....hasn't been able to do so.
The old phrase "Jack of all trades, master of none" is applicable. The F-35 will likely do one or two missions well at best; perhaps its stealth strike mission, so maybe "Jack of all trades, master of ONE" would be more applicable.
The rest of the jobs? It'll be mediocre at best when compared to an aircraft dedicated to that mission. The CAS mission springs to mind here. Example: compared to the F-22 it'll be mediocre at best as a dedicated air superiority fighter.
Many apparently think mediocre is good enough. Not all will agree with that.
It's clear in this thread that some are victims of the old "Generals always fight the last war" adage. The next full scale, all out war won't be like the two Iraq wars. Both Russia and China are evolving aircraft and anti-air defenses to try to neutralize the threat they see from US aircraft like the F-22 and F-35. To presume they will be unable to use their technology to counter these aircraft to some large or small degree is.....fantasy. Mediocre may well turn into death trap.
i think we'd all just better hope we never have to find out if the F-35 is the Wunderplane the Internet Gurus say it is.
Also the government are just a bunch of liars" conspiracy theory.
Uh....have you been paying attention to your government lately? You know, the most transparent administration in history?
Yeah...I pretty much believe my government is a bunch of liars from top to bottom. The "spin" is "in" every time they open their mouths or release a press report.
You may not believe that now but inevitably you will.
And now...as Eagl Lead has done, I think it's time to plug in the burners and exit the thread.
Y'all have some fine speculation now, y'hear?
AMF.