I guess this is just something I'll have to begrudgingly accept. It's purely a wild guess but somehow I wouldn't be surprised if China and Russia don't have as much of an issue with acquisition as we have.
Agreed 100%. I'd like us to cut our losses, apply the lessons learned both technologically and logistically from the F-35 program to improving the solid platforms that we have easy access to today.

Re: JamesNoBrakes,

I do agree with your points that those aircraft you listed all had their teething problems to varying degrees, but a big difference between all of those and the F-35 is that none of those were intended to replace so many aircraft roles, airframes, and airframe types as they dreamed of with the F-35. I believe that the scale of the problems being faced with the F-35 is far greater than the older jets that had their issues, and thus puts it in its own league of failure.

Those other jets went to on to eventually be pretty successful. I'm not hopeful of the same with the F-35.

The NAVY can't be that smart... The enemies we would need the 35's capabilities to fight against have access denial weapons that outrange our aircraft's ability to fly from the carrier and strike targets ashore. And our enemies that don't have those capabilities wouldn't require an F-35 to drop a bomb on their heads. Not to mention it doesn't even have a gun. Everyone I've talked to who has worked on or around the 35 has just about the same thing to say: its a POS. The USMC's "B" has incredibly short legs. The USAF's "A" has underperformed in almost every category (even though it is the only version of the 3 that is remotely on schedule). The NAVY's "C" has had constant development problems. I know none of the projects will go the way of the buffalo anytime soon, but damn... I can't see much good in the whole program. Should of just built more F-22s for the USAF and built more Super Hornets for the NAVY.

RAH-66.


I feel for y'all.

I didn't realize how Mathias Rust single-handedly brought about the demise of the Soviet Union -- until I read Wikipedia:

"Rust's flight through a supposedly impregnable air-defense system had great effect on the Soviet military and led to the dismissal of many senior officers, including Defence Minister Marshal of the Soviet Union Sergei Sokolov and the head of the Soviet Air Defense, former World War II fighter ace pilot Chief Marshal Alexander Koldunov. The incident aided Mikhail Gorbachev in the implementation of his reforms (by removing numerous military officials opposed to him), and reduced the prestige of the Soviet military among the populace, thus helping bring an end to the Cold War.[1]"

There is no weapon too short for a brave man (which Rust proved a few years later when he stabbed a co-worker who spurned him).

Well, my point is just that history repeats itself. The F111 and F14 were originally intended to be the same aircraft, as a "multirole" fighter/attack aircraft that would be purchased by the Navy and AF. It ended badly.

It's really eye opening to talk to a knowledgeable F-35 pilot like the one I met recently. I won't write a lengthy post about it, but the capes are really out of this world. If and when it all begins to work, it has the potential to be a game changer.

It simply boils down to cost: can we afford it? Or should I say... do we need to afford it?

Every time I've ready something in the press directly related to my area of expertise, I'm ****ed off at how inaccurate the article is, and how the author spun it to something it is not.
So when I read about something I do not know much about (like the F-35), I have to figure that Joe-sh!t-the-reporter has completely dorked up the facts. I'm guessing he wouldn't know a data link from a sausage link.
Take it with a grain of salt.

I am very glad to hear that, especially since Marine air is so heavily committed.

Spot on, Shack!

Talking with the guys at VPS, they say the same thing. When fully mature the thing will be freakin' klingon-cloaking-device-star-wars-laser-beam-death-from-above-super-100%-SA.

As a fighter, they have some not so nice things to say. "All the thrust of a Hornet with all the alpha of a Viper" is what I hear over and over again.

You're right, for the money what could we have done instead to current platforms?

Don't forget the "sharks with laser beams"!