الكل
← Back to Squawk list
The F-35 Could Explode In Midair If Struck By Lightning
The F-35 is unable to fly within 25 miles of a thunderstorm because engineers believe it could explode if struck by lightning. The storm restriction will not be lifted until an oxygen gauge in the fuel tank is redesigned in all F-35s. What a bargain. (www.businessinsider.com) المزيد...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Lightning's can't even take Lightning. How Ironic.
The F-111 AArdvark was a total failure in it's beginnings. Some just disappeared without a trace in Nam. But we kept after the problems, kept faith in it's future, and it became the world's premier tip of the spear. It saw much front line duty for years after that, and still does. I feel the F-22 will follow that course-
Well our two favorite flying boondoggles have been in development about four times as long as the Aardvark took to become operational. There is no end in sight. Plus they cost a lot more in general. And they were overkill when they were first designed and they will be approaching obsolescence by the time they take to the skys in earnest.
Not exactly-The F-111 was stamped "operational" years before it actually was. When it reached actual operational status it was in trouble because it was nearing end-of-life operation and considered obsolete. The aircraft was also designed way "overkill" because of it's ability to laser a target, before laser guided bombs existed. All things like that have a way of working themselves out. It's better to have it and not need it-than to need it and not have it.
Well, they are saying the same for the 787. It will all be interesting.
I feel differently when it's a private company rather than taxpayers. As a voter I'd like to think that we were spending our money effectively and investing according to what will make our country work better. I could care less if Boeing's CEO feels uncomfortable.
I recall then SoD Dick Cheney calling the F-14 a jobs program and an inefficient platform based on 60's technology as his reason for going with the Rhino over the AST-21 project in the early 90's. In the 90's the ATF was supposed to be unrivaled in the air but due to cost cuts, and budget overruns that ensued anyway, you're about 15 years late from initial projected EIS and now the JSF is going down the same path. An updated F-14 might have been more inefficient, but with updated engines, computers, etc, I still would have taken that over the two white elephants buzzing the sky now. Plus, NG might have still been in the fighter business which would mean keeping another competitor in the industry. Heck even the F-15SE might have been a better platform to go with in lieu of the F-22 and at a fraction of the cost. China and Russia developed theirs after the F-22, so I give the advantage to them especially in numbers. I'd say LM is a jobs program. The hypocritical Pentagon needs to get its act together.