tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post8584363243774246994..comments2024-03-28T03:06:18.182-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: Canada ditches the F-35Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-88333874450550843572015-10-23T01:57:10.548-05:002015-10-23T01:57:10.548-05:00Also, the Chinese "clone" of the F-35 is...Also, the Chinese "clone" of the F-35 is a much larger machine with truly huge internal weapons bays. It's really a different class of machine. And it's not crippled by the VTOL requirement of the F-35. It may well turn out to be junk, but that remains to be seen.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13296988746956477216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-90120693573952555802015-10-23T01:53:12.675-05:002015-10-23T01:53:12.675-05:00It's the TFX (F-111) all over again. It may b...It's the TFX (F-111) all over again. It may be eventually made to work for one role reasonably well, but at great expense. I have my doubts even of that, though. Far too many compromises have been made to the design (for all variants) in order to support the V/STOL for the Marine variant. Some of the technology may be put to use elsewhere, but I don't think it's possible to polish this turd.<br /><br />I'm surprised the F-16V doesn't include the conformal fuel tanks as standard equipment. It's crazy that our own USAF has no interest in them for F-16s, even though they like them for F-15Es and some other F-15 models.<br /><br />It's almost like our various military procurement systems are following Robert Conquest's 3rd Law of Politics:<br /><i>The simplest way to explain the behavior of any bureaucratic organization is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies.</i>Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13296988746956477216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-72152335231990445902015-10-22T10:05:23.985-05:002015-10-22T10:05:23.985-05:00I've seen arguments on both sides regarding te...I've seen arguments on both sides regarding te F-35 performance. And I do like the idea of narrower supply streams (all branches being able to order the same parts). But one thing that can not be ignored is the cost. An already expensive jet, getting more expensive as each month passes, and on the return side...not leaps and bounds ahead of anything else? Should be a tough sell. Unfortunately, Lockheed's lobbyists have worked wonders, and it looks like we WILL get this jet, cost be damned.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12033897909182292097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-74806344318312175862015-10-21T22:43:51.165-05:002015-10-21T22:43:51.165-05:00The more cancellations of the F-35, the more the r...The more cancellations of the F-35, the more the rest will cost since R&D gets amortized over fewer airframes. That makes them more likely to be cancelled (by other nations, at least, I think the US and UK are all in on it). <br /><br />Boeing has some interesting developments of the F/A-18 and the F-15. Lockheed has done much the same with the F-16. If stealth isn't a major concern there's a lot of ability to be had for the price. The Raving Prophethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830254881182697135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-20292237023663196312015-10-21T22:07:32.224-05:002015-10-21T22:07:32.224-05:00We need to be moving further up the tech tree. I&#...We need to be moving further up the tech tree. I'd like to see fighters that transform into bipedal mecha at some point :)Toastridernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-86072958517257925792015-10-21T21:45:57.071-05:002015-10-21T21:45:57.071-05:00Lockheed at one point had proposed a delta winged ...Lockheed at one point had proposed a delta winged F-16...0007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-6785401001587515842015-10-21T21:34:33.327-05:002015-10-21T21:34:33.327-05:00Australia is cancelling the purchase of the F35B (...Australia is cancelling the purchase of the F35B (which was going to the navy)<br /><br />I'm hoping they'll have the sense to cancel all of the F35sMorrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-25691901780852875312015-10-21T21:06:15.526-05:002015-10-21T21:06:15.526-05:00good news is the Chinese cloned the F35, which mig...good news is the Chinese cloned the F35, which might have been the intent all along since the F22 can kill it in a straight up fight.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708868713277676628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-88262296317181059312015-10-21T20:59:40.871-05:002015-10-21T20:59:40.871-05:00They need a new fleet of DC-3s.They need a new fleet of DC-3s.Sunnybrook Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18135224259672444423noreply@blogger.com