Another F-35 lost

[LewisM]

https://amp.9news.com.au/article/c23229b7-1f86-4616-bff6-597b0286e1cb

Not so great for the F-22 either...

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/sad-raptor-stealth-air-force-f-22s-wont-make-their-readiness-goals-and-matters-51552

[Peter Ward]

Have to say I am not a fan of the F35....and suggest the powers that be were taken in hook line and sinker by agreeing to purchase this overpriced and troubled single engine airframe.

[sil]

yep, i was a fan of the YF-23 during the decision process. But hey i'd never get anywhere any of these toys . plus its SOP for the yanks to only sell the first gen varients to allies, let them find the bugs so they can use the upgraded varients that actually fly for themselves.

[LewisM]

The YF-23 lost to the YF-22, not the F-35 (though the F-22 is still not living up to it's grandiose reputation/propaganda).

The Boeing X-32 competed against the X-35.

Back to the JASDF F-35 that disintegrated into the Pacific Ocean inexplicably, the pilot is still missing though some debris of the aircraft has been found. Japan has grounded all F-35's for the time being. Rumour mill has it most likely the oxygen system caused pilot unconsciousness - a bug mentioned on the Gripe Sheets many times, supposedly fixed but potentially not.

Another case of Yanks rushing things for money....shades of 737MAX.

[wasyoungonce]

The newer hot engines are excellent performers and very reliable....but...the Airforce bigwigs vowed never to by another single engine fighter after the Mirage. Not that the Ata turbojet was that bad, the refinements had made if a very good engine but it did have its weaknesses.



Looks to be the people who knew this have moved on. I remember in first few moths of 3SQN F18 operations....during AA gunnery ...their first F18 taste as a SQN....they managed to shoot parts off the banner that were ingested. Bother engines were badly damage and shut down, one destroyed completely (the whole banner trail weight had been shot off and ingested). Needless to say...wow...good shooting! But, they would have lost 2 Airframes in that one week alone.......had it not been for the insurance of the 2nd engine.


Anyway...what done is done...its a good swarm aircraft but I am surprised by its lack of good range and lack of super-cruise. And it ain't stealth with external stores...well ...less so particularly armaments. Anyway FWIW....

[LewisM]

The F-35 just lacks everywhere.

The recent airshow offerings (mainly done to discredit further Pierre Sprey) have been found to have significantly lightened airframes (minimal fuel, no stores etc) and yet still exhibit an "awkward" AoA in level flight and trim angle of the tailplanes - a VERY dynamically unstable aeroplane that is potentially unflyable in the event of cyber attack/AI failure (and then the ejection could very will kill you, considering the ejection seats failings oft mentioned).

I just hope that the change of government (I don't think we can argue that one!) on May 18 means a change in Defence spending on white elephants. Even more countries have opted out of the F-35 now.

[wasyoungonce]

Their ejection seats are ok...they just have a mass limit as all do. Even the earlier Mk14 (on FA18s) variants do.....we used to talk about this quite a bit on F18s.


Most airshow acft are min fuel loads, really the pilots determine what they need but I've prepped airshow acft and usually the pilots usually ask for min fuel.


These F35s do appear to have an flight instability built in which usually means better manoeuvrability but in the F35....not really with it's thrust/mass. Problem is the F18 is a bomb truck that could be used as superiority. The F35 is supposed multi-role...which is impossible. Its not really a fighter not really a bomb truck, but its a good swarm acft with ability to gather relay battlefield data to build a picture and work in a team swarm.



They are relying on its stealth abilities which are excellent but the minute its discovered its in trouble. Its the old ECM/ECM/ECCCM dog chasing it's tail.


I do wish the airforce purchased some F22's....we would have got them we were the only other country to have the then top secret top shelf F111 from FMS. I guess the Airforce is trying to reduce costs by airframe commonality.


My guess is the RAN will buy some more LHDs....which will accommodate the F35s. Some talk here.

https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/air-sea-lift/3203-f-35-countdown-royal-navy-completes-carrier-flight-tests


That's my crystal ball guess. I reckon this is needed due from the SCS territory grab by China. We really need force projection, to do so not only relies upon IFR but also ability to deliver on mass. I fear China's actions have ramped up our defence needs somewhat. :shrug: Its a whole new ball game.



Anyway lest see how they fare....would like to see how other Airforces are using them and how effective they are before passing a thumbs down.

[LewisM]

The specific JASDF F-35 logbook / maintenance log has been examined and showed this aircraft had had instrumentation errors and cooling system malfunctions, as well as having made an emergency landing previously. 7 other JASDF F-35's have also performed genuine emergency landings and similar avionics issues in the past 3 months.

JASDF continues to ground all F-35's.