Wolfgun33 Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Don't know if this was stated, but there's a big article in the Dec 2010 issue of Air Forces Monthly about the F-35. It's about the cost overuns and such. It also brings this question up. We won't sell the F-22 to others, but we will the F-35? And will they get a "watered down" version? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 (edited) Don't know if this was stated, but there's a big article in the Dec 2010 issue of Air Forces Monthly about the F-35. It's about the cost overuns and such. The SecDef has announced a new, low cost alternative to the F-35B. Edited December 10, 2010 by Murph Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 It would make more sense to have an all F-35C fleet for the USN & USMC. Aside from commonality, the USN buy would be cheaper if more Cs are bought. You could say the same thing about them buying the F-35B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted December 10, 2010 Author Share Posted December 10, 2010 You could say the same thing about them buying the F-35B Um, how should I put this? No. Unless you want to see how far a steam catapult can shoot the B model nose gear! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 The SecDef has announced a new, low cost alternative to the F-35B. That's the Northpup YFK-9B Super Pooch, right ? I hear it's got a great aural and aromatic sensor suite ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gamodelmaker Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 (edited) i seen on the local news last night that beaufort is getting 5 of the f-35 next week. time to keep the camera handie.let me clear that f -35 up its not 5 of them but 5 squadrons of them http://www.f35beaufort.com/ Edited December 10, 2010 by gamodelmaker Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted December 10, 2010 Author Share Posted December 10, 2010 You might just want to not spend too much time on getting ready and waiting... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oroka Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 i seen on the local news last night that beaufort is getting 5 of the f-35 next week. time to keep the camera handie.let me clear that f -35 up its not 5 of them but 5 squadrons of them http://www.f35beaufort.com/ You should go an camp out now! There are sure to be huge crowds. Bring plenty of everything, could be a bit of a wait. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted December 11, 2010 Author Share Posted December 11, 2010 Especially considering the first deliverable F-35B currently exists as a forward fuselage frame only! ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted December 13, 2010 Author Share Posted December 13, 2010 Speaking of deliveries, AF-3 was delivered to Edwards on the 11th. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share Posted December 15, 2010 It looks like there are now two test AC at Pax conducting STOVL flight ops. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share Posted December 15, 2010 ...and the hits keep coming. Second engine. Bam! Marine Corps IOC delay. Bam! Israel wants more free F-35s. Double Bam! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graves_09 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 (edited) Israel wants more free F-35s. Double Bam! Umm, yeah, read the article, its says the "F-35s in exchange for settlement freeze" deal fell through and they are seeking 20 more F-35's in addition to the 20 they are already contracted to buy. It says nothing about getting them for free. Based on this article they are not getting ANY F-35's for "free" thus they cannot be getting "more" free F-35's. Edited December 15, 2010 by graves_09 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 ...and the hits keep coming.Second engine. Bam! Marine Corps IOC delay. Bam! Israel wants more free F-35s. Double Bam! Awesome - the senate is throwing billions at GE for a 2nd engine that no one in the military wants, while at the same time, cutting the number of aircraft to save money. It's good to see that there is no more pork / earmarks anymore. With regard to the latest delay on the B-model, the article quotes the Marine Commandant General: “I’m really not wringing my hands over that,†General James Amos told reporters today at the Pentagon. “It will be when it will be.†You gotta love a guy like this. The F-35B program is ready to sink and he makes a statement like that. "We'll just keep giving Lockmart billions and they will get us the plane whenever they darned well feel like it". God forbid someone starts to get tough with these clowns. Kinda reminds me of that ROTC cadet in Animal House telling the panicky crowd to "remain calm, all is well" just before he gets trampled. At least the country is doing great financially and we can afford all this waste. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Keeping the second engine going may be a way to keep the UK interested in future purchases of F-35s ... As it stands now with the Marines being the only likely purchaser of the Bravo, those things are going to go up in price ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share Posted December 15, 2010 (edited) Umm, yeah, read the article, its says the "F-35s in exchange for settlement freeze" deal fell through and they are seeking 20 more F-35's in addition to the 20 they are already contracted to buy. It says nothing about getting them for free. Based on this article they are not getting ANY F-35's for "free" thus they cannot be getting "more" free F-35's. Newsflash: The article was included because I generally try not to editorialize on crap. But, this article is full of misleading statements and errors. I strongly support Israel, but am getting a little tired of their crap--like them being in the top espionage threats to the US, for example. First, there was no "deal for settlement freeze". That was a rumour started (and finished) by overzealous/wishful thinking Israelis. 20 JSFs for a 90 day freeze?! That doesn't pass the giggle test regardless of what side of the political spectrum you are on. Note that the "sources" for the information are the Israelis. This reporter did not even try to confirm anything the Israelis said with US sources. Second, they ARE getting the first batch free, and are trying to get more free. How do I define free? US taxpayers are paying for the Israeli jets--all of it, including the extra development effort the Israelis want. There isn't one red shekel going into US coffers to pay for the Israeli jets. They are using their US military aid allotment (which is US taxpayer $$) to buy the jets. Kind of like giving your kid a $100 debit card that you funded, then getting all excited that "they" bought you something for Christmas with it. 11bee gets righteously and rightfully indignant about the second engine issue, but everyone keeps glossing over how much the Israeli JSF fleet is going to cost US taxpayers. Edited December 15, 2010 by MarkW Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Today is the anniversary of it's first flight: Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Newsflash: 11bee gets righteously and rightfully indignant about the second engine issue, but everyone keeps glossing over how much the Israeli JSF fleet is going to cost US taxpayers. FWIW, I have issues with our continued funding of Israel (in general) and the JSF deal (in particular) but since I am already skirting the dreaded political side of all of this, I figured I would stay well away from anything involving Israel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pbcheez Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 you NEED competition. otherwise they will rip you off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 you NEED competition. otherwise they will rip you off. The X-35 won the JSF Competition ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark M. Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 The reason the Pentagon has been trying to cancel the second engine for so long is because of successful lobby attempts and padding of pockets by the makers of the FIRST engine. Competition is a good thing, especially when no contracts are being signed now. No deals are being made. They're just saying "Build it, we'll pick the best and most cost-effective when the time comes" -- and that is the real reason to have 2 engines competing. I wouldn't read too much into that Marine quote, either. The plane will get done when it is. Any fines, fees, penalties assessed because it's late will be decided later. In the meantime, there's no point placing arbitrary deadlines on it and then looking stupid in the eyes of the nation when that doesn't happen. It just makes sense to let the project evolve a bit more before you can lay down that kind of timeline. Look what kind of problems and public ridicule the arbitrary timelines in the mideast have caused this country. I doubt he wants a repeat. Although cutting back the numbers is disturbing. Stupid, even. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 I don't think you are implying LM should be allowed to dawdle along until they get it right, though that is one way to read your post. The real problem is the inability of LM and the govt to develop realistic development timelines and budgets. Simply saying "we'll get what we get when we get it" is a nearly criminal abdication of responsibility for anyone required to ensure tax dollars are wisely spent or that the war fighter gets the capability they asked AND budgeted for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 The X-35 won the JSF Competition ... Gregg I always favoured the X-32....it looked like a big, friendly whale :unsure: It made me happy looking at it..... perhaps that´s the real reason why it lost, eh? :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Michael Bay Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 X-32....it looked like a big, friendly whale :) Ahhh! Woooh! What's happening? Who am I? Why am I here? What's my purpose in life? What do I mean by who am I? Okay okay, calm down calm down get a grip now. Ooh, this is an interesting sensation. What is it? Its a sort of tingling in my... well I suppose I better start finding names for things. Lets call it a... tail! Yeah! Tail! And hey, what's this roaring sound, whooshing past what I'm suddenly gonna call my head? Wind! Is that a good name? It'll do. Yeah, this is really exciting. I'm dizzy with anticipation! Or is it the wind? There's an awful lot of that now isn't it? And what's this thing coming toward me very fast? So big and flat and round, it needs a big wide sounding name like 'Ow', 'Ownge', 'Round', 'Ground'! That's it! Ground! Ha! I wonder if it'll be friends with me? Hello Ground!I wonder if it will be friends with me? And the rest, after a sudden wet thud, was silence. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted December 17, 2010 Author Share Posted December 17, 2010 Which is also a pretty good description of the X-32 trying to hover... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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