[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

I watched 4 Corners the other Monday night with interest....( being an Ex Military Aircraft Engineer F111-C and P3B Orion Aircraft. ) .....I noted what was said years ago ...software problems have ' plagued ' this Aircraft's performance envelope to the point.....countries are pulling out of ' contracts ' signed ....and I don't blame them.

It's performance at ' sign up time ' was stated much more above what the Aircraft is capable of at the moment .... in other words ....the Aeroplane is not doing or flying at the ' stated ' spec's it was designed to fulfil for its customers.

It's a bit like you buying a Ferrari ... but they have ' de tuned ' it ...and it now runs like a V8 Holden.

The Aircraft's ' envelope ' ...( flying threshold/ performance) has been greatly compromised because they are dealing with ' software issues ' .....getting the Aircraft's computers to ' talk ' to each other when the pilot inputs a request.... things are just not happening as they expected.

This Aircraft has an ' all digital ... touch screen ' cockpit....just like your Android or Windows based Tablet......no analogue stuff in sight....it's often called a ' glass cockpit ' ...but with touch screen capabilities.

This Aeroplane is basically a ' flying computer ' encased in an airframe, coupled to a jet engine....and a seat in it ...for someone to sit.

Another thing ...nothing was ever mentioned whether the Aircraft's ' Avionics ' or Weapons delivery Systems are ' hardened ' against ' emp ' ...( electro-magnetic- pulse ) ...in the event of a Nuclear Exchange.
If it isn't ( but I suspect it is ) ....the JSF35 will drop like a stone.

It started out at $45mill to build .... now it's $107mill' each ...and Australia has ordered 100 of them.

IMHO ....We cannot afford that... it takes 3 times the ' purchase price ' to maintain each Aircraft for the duration of it's life of service.

Credit to the original photographers.

Flash..!!