What's going on with the F-35

[zuggerat]

Whats going on with the F-35, are they going to start turning out pre-operational verisions or are they going to sit around and think about the budget overruns. I've been to the Lockheed site numerous times in the past few months and I have yet to see any new developments. Anyone got any good tidbits they're dying to get out?

 

[46Driver]

There's a whole thread on it just a few down about how it is overweight. Funding is a problem as Operation Iraqi Freedom burns through cash. We'll know more after the election in November.

 

[zuggerat]

::smacks head:: sorry didnt see it

 

[paikea]

Let's swoop up a few Eurofighters. Ha. But seriously, from what I can tell they're not bad planes. Hehe... let's start a new conversation.

"The AmeriFighter"

 

[Clux4]

Does anybody know weather or not the Marine Corps is suppose to have the Navy's version of the JSF. I would think they will get a few taking-off with a lunchbar as oppose to ahphalt-burning.

 

[zuggerat]

i thought that they were only ordering STOVL's

 

[Clux4]

That is the same thing i thought, but i have a feeling they will get some of the Navy's versions since this is meant to replace the 18's in the near future.

 

[zuggerat]

i thought that the marines wanted to take their air capabilities in the same direction as the royal navy, and have STOVL's everywhere. it makes sense because the threat has changed just a bit since the days of the coldwar

 

[Clux4]

I think there is even more progress on the AF and Navy version than there is on the Marine Corps version. The last i heard, the Marine Corps version was overweight and they had to go back to the drawing board. Let them start rolling them into the Squadron and then we will see what the MC will decide.

 

[Clux4]

Yeah you right, I spoke to one of their crew chif the other day and he was telling me how bad a$$ the thing is. They plug in their computer after flight, and it tells them every required maintenance. From how much oil to fuel needed. The thing that got my attention i was the weapons bay, that freaking thing is huge.

You talking about the Eurofighter. You know how many of those things were lost initially. ( lots of them)

 

[zuggerat]

F-35's gonna be a beast, cant wait to see the first operational version

 

[zuggerat]

it must really be a great design because the final version deviates very little from the experimental demonstrator

 

[squeeze]

it must really be a great design because the final version deviates very little from the experimental demonstrator

Not surprising, as computers have almost eliminated the need for physical prototypes all together.

 

[Lonestar155]

Does anyone know when the F-14 is suppose to make its last tour at sea? Its going to be a sad day for me....