Originally Posted by
AZFlyer
Ive made this basic comment before, but every time I read about the latest snafu re: F-35/22 etc, it just continually disappoints me that we no longer seem to be able to create combat aircraft like we used to.
I know a lot has a changed since the days where we were producing a new (and successful) jet every couple of years, but why can't we do that now?
The jets of yesterday (F-4/F-100/F-105/A-7/etc...) we're not exactly that advanced. Once you had a fuselage that was flyable, slap a motor in it, hang some bombs and maybe some missiles and go. Pilots could transition from airframe to airframe with relative ease, because there wasn't much to them...find a wire and your good! The systems we have today, are not exactly cheap and easy to develop (or learn). We'll never be able to roll out jets like we used to...but the 35 program has gotten ridiculous.
I don't think we stop developing new aircraft. But I do think the 35 is a lost cause and we would be better off by putting our money into newer 4th Gen aircraft. Then we need to fix our acquisitions process, and try again at a new 5th gen fighter.