Okay, before I start, I don’t have an opinion about the Lockheed F-35 Lighting II. I just have heard a lot of differing opinions about the lighting II and I want to hear what people on a site of airplane lovers.
If anyone wants to talk about the F-35, I ask that this remains friendly, no fighting or anything like that.
Thank You.
@BlackhattAircraft ah Okay
Yeah, I’m more of a 1st - 3rd gen guy myself, but I was more talking on a technical/practical level @DarkMarble1
sorry but i don't like the F-35, more of a 4th and 3rd gen plane lover, especially of the F-14
I used to have my doubts over the success the F-35 will have but after doing my research, spending a lot of time with Air Force pilots, and being able to watch an RAF Lightning II do a display, I’m in love with it. Yes there have been drawbacks with its long and complicated design process, but as planes become more complex, this sort of long development will probably become common. There have been complaints about its manoeuvrability and an insufficient armament load but these will be updated soon. A pilot once described the aircraft to me as a “freak”, but not in a way that would necessarily be considered bad. It only has one engine (fairly uncommon in most modern fighters, especially for the navy) and isn’t designed with high manoeuvrability in mind. However, when in the BVR role, which is the future of air combat, it’s performance is outstanding and truth be told, we (as civilians) hardly know what the aircraft is capable of. I do not beleive it should take over the CAS role of the US Air Force’s A-10, but be a complimentary asset. Besides, if there ever was a large war to break out, the A-10 would be useless as it can only operate in controlled airspace. A Lightning, on the other hand, can fight its was to a target, destroy it, and fight its way out, that is if it’s even detected. Sure the media may be saying a lot of negative things about it but in my opinion, it is the most capable aircraft of our time.
@BaconEggs 🐖
it's sexy af
@WNP78 triggered
@Squirrel great points but it looks like your first message got cut off when you hit the character limit...
@AdlerSteiner lol
@ForeverPie F-16 is awesome!!!!!
F-16 > F-35
p.s my dad worked on military simulators for the f-16
it's fast... also me likee thrust vectoring and VTOL
The F-35 is a cool plane, that's literally all it has going for it. It's stealth and dope VTOL arent really enough for it. The F-16 is still a better fighter (the F-35 is supposed to replace the F-16), and I'd say the program was a waste of money, despite how awesome the plane is.
The F-16 beat the F-35 in a dogfight test.
9/10 would prefer the P-38
im just saying my opinion it should be obvious that it and as an opinion @Squirrel
It's modern, sleek and advanced... Oh and it's expensive...
Really expensive...
@BlackhattAircraft Generic modern fighter... Hmmm... :|
@JohnnyBoythePilot really? I never heard of that. I'll look into that.
@BlackhattAircraft
Nope, the F-35 is replacing the F-16, F/A-18, AV-8B, and most likely the A-10 as well. The USAF has launched a new fighter jet program "F-X" for an F-22 replacement.
@BlackhattAircraft
Boeing's actually re-manufacturing A-10 wings to extend their useful life time and keep A-10's flying. IMHO, Boeing should also upgrade the A-10's avionics and give it more powerful turbofan engines to make it more modern and up to speed.
Honestly guys, the only thing the F-35 Can replace properly is the F-22 Raptor
@JohnnyBoythePilot Yes, but the A-10 is meant to go in guns blazing and the only plane that can even come close to that in my mind is the AC-130, but instead of replacing the A-10, Boeing should just make a new A-10 plant, instead of trying to get rid of the A-10 all together.
🐖
Haha lol @BlackhattAircraft
@BlackhattAircraft
The A-10 situation is a little bit tricky. I don't think we'll ever see another attacker such as the A-10. The A-10's replacement will either be a stealth strike fighter like the F-35 dropping smart precision bombs or it will be a light-CAS plane such as the A-29 Super Tucano, AT-6C Wolverine, or the Textron Scorpion light attack jet.