Flying the F-35

[Puma44]

Might be time to padlock this thread since it’s gone far beyond flyINg the F-35.

[Shuffler]

Might be time to padlock this thread since it’s gone far beyond flyINg the F-35.

Agreed!

[FLS]

Here's the new airshow.

[SilverZ06]

Here's the new airshow.

  That video must have been shot on Saturday. I was there Sunday and the polished pony was not there. The video doesn't do the F-35 justice. It was amazing to watch in person.

[DaveBB]

Did they ever get all the sensors to work on the F-35 so that the pilot could see through the aircraft via his helmet?  That would be a major breakthrough if they did, and might make the plane worth it.

[SilverZ06]

Yes

[Vraciu]

Did they ever get all the sensors to work on the F-35 so that the pilot could see through the aircraft via his helmet?  That would be a major breakthrough if they did, and might make the plane worth it.

Nothing will make it worth it. 

Let’s hope it never has to be used against a tier one opponent.    It’s fine for airshows and wasting ramp space at Luke...

[Toad]

I think we better hope the JASDF F-35 isn't on the dock in Shanghai right now. Or in a hangar at Jianqiao Air Base!

[Vraciu]

I think we better hope the JASDF F-35 isn't on the dock in Shanghai right now. Or in a hangar at Jianqiao Air Base!

They already stole all the info I bet.   Joke’s on them.   

[ACE]

The plane is such a step forward in history. I’m glad we are able to produce quality jets like this. Can’t wait to see what we come up with next.

[Ack-Ack]

I'm interested in seeing how the F-16 is going to perform when it gets some of the F-35 systems.

[Spitter]

I work on the A-10.  The F-35 is supposed to replace the A-10 (at least most of it's roles), but it can't. It is simply in a different performance envelope. Not better or worse, but different and definitely worse for the 2 most important roles the A-10 plays: Close Air Support, and even more important, Combat Search and Rescue. 

The F-35 is a boondoggle (go watch "The Pentagon Wars", and imagine the same thing with an airplane, and waaaayyyy more money). I work on Hill AFB, I see the F-35s flying over every day, and it's a cool plane. Fast, loud, (really loud) and a hangar queen that is almost as bad as the F-22! 

Luckily, the A-10 is funded through 2032. Long live the Warthog!   

[DaveBB]

I work on the A-10.  The F-35 is supposed to replace the A-10 (at least most of it's roles), but it can't. It is simply in a different performance envelope. Not better or worse, but different and definitely worse for the 2 most important roles the A-10 plays: Close Air Support, and even more important, Combat Search and Rescue. 

The F-35 is a boondoggle (go watch "The Pentagon Wars", and imagine the same thing with an airplane, and waaaayyyy more money). I work on Hill AFB, I see the F-35s flying over every day, and it's a cool plane. Fast, loud, (really loud) and a hangar queen that is almost as bad as the F-22! 

Luckily, the A-10 is funded through 2032. Long live the Warthog!   

You aren't going to like this, but A-10s have a horrible friendly fire ratio.  They were blowing up US Marine AAVs (full of Marines) during the Battle of Nasiriyah in Iraq.  Read the book, had a classmate who was in the battle.  F-35 has the optics to identify what is friend or foe.

[Vraciu]

You aren't going to like this, but A-10s have a horrible friendly fire ratio.  They were blowing up US Marine AAVs (full of Marines) during the Battle of Nasiriyah in Iraq.  Read the book, had a classmate who was in the battle.  F-35 has the optics to identify what is friend or foe.

IF they get them to work. 

Friendly fire is as old as time and will continue to be, technology be darned.   

B-1s hit the wrong targets.   Apaches hit the wrong targets. 

At least with the Joint Strike Failure the targets it can hit will be so terribly limited that collateral friendly deaths should be minimized from this platform. 

[DaveBB]

IF they get them to work. 

Friendly fire is as old as time and will continue to be, technology be darned.   

B-1s hit the wrong targets.   Apaches hit the wrong targets. 

At least with the Joint Strike Failure the targets it can hit will be so terribly limited that collateral friendly deaths should be minimized from this platform.

B-1s still had radar bombsites at the beginning of the War on Terror.  Apache friendly fire has been attributed to blatantly disregarding orders (Gulf War).