Forums
Forums Home > Military and Aviation News > First Military Pilot Review of the F-35 Strike Fighter (Verdict: Awesome)
[URL=http://imageshack.us]
[/URL] The F-35 Lightning II, allegedly the most advanced fighter in the world, has been tried for the first time by a military service pilot. Lt. Col. James "Flipper" Kromberg of the U.S. Air Force, who can be seen in the video wearing one of those scary demon helmets, took off from Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth plant, flying the wonderplane through different altitudes and situations. His verdict:
"The aircraft flew very well, exceeding my expectations," Kromberg said. "I was surprised by the amount of power on the takeoff roll. And the handling, particularly with the gear up, was phenomenal. The aircraft was very stable flying in formation with another airplane. It was really a joy to fly."
So there you go: two thumbs up from Señor Flipper. I don't know about you, but I'm happy that the $40 billion total development costs have resulted in a plane that handles phenomenally well with the gear up (which is more than you can say about the Strategic Defense Initiative).
The F-35, nicknamed Lightning II in honor of the WW2 fighter P-38 Lightning, has flown only 28 times, all of them except this one commanded by Lockheed Martin's own test pilots, Jon Beesley and Jeff Knowles. The last flight happened on March 12th, for its first aerial refueling test shown here:
[URL=http://imageshack.us]
[/URL] The F-35 Lightning II is scheduled to debut in 2011, after its maiden flight back in 2006. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan capable of delivering 40,000 pounds of force, with an additional Rolls-Royce Lift System for the F-35B short take-off and vertical landing variant, the F-35 has been designed to be the número uno strike fighter in the world until around 2040.
At that point, we all hope that 1) no more modern fighters would be needed after that date, or 2) they develop Veritech fighters to defend Earth against the Zentraedi.
http://gizmodo.com/371752/first-military-pilot-review-of-the-f+35-strike-fighter-verdict-kicks-ass
Quote:
Hey, I prefer the Mave...
Isn't she cuter than a Veritech?
Besides, mankind is the race that learnt how to handle fire just to burn the hut of the neighbours so, unfortunately, solution (1) will never be viable (But maybe you meant that other means of shooting down aircrafts will be discovered?)
And then, sorry but I will wait to see what the pilots of others countries will think of the F-35. After all, aren't we poor fella getting the downgraded export version? (Isn't America aligning with Russia on the issue of the military hardware's export market?) The five precepts of the Soviet intellectual:“Do not think. If you think then do not speak. If you think and speak then do not write. If you think, speak and write then do not sign. If you think, speak, write and sign then don't be surprised.”
Originally posted by SAS73
At that point, we all hope that 1) no more modern fighters would be needed after that date, or 2) they develop Veritech fighters to defend Earth against the Zentraedi.
At that point, we all hope that 1) no more modern fighters would be needed after that date, or 2) they develop Veritech fighters to defend Earth against the Zentraedi.
Hey, I prefer the Mave...
Isn't she cuter than a Veritech?
Besides, mankind is the race that learnt how to handle fire just to burn the hut of the neighbours so, unfortunately, solution (1) will never be viable (But maybe you meant that other means of shooting down aircrafts will be discovered?)
And then, sorry but I will wait to see what the pilots of others countries will think of the F-35. After all, aren't we poor fella getting the downgraded export version? (Isn't America aligning with Russia on the issue of the military hardware's export market?) The five precepts of the Soviet intellectual:“Do not think. If you think then do not speak. If you think and speak then do not write. If you think, speak and write then do not sign. If you think, speak, write and sign then don't be surprised.”
Ja looks pretty much similar to the Stealth the Movie, did u sawed luigi?
what is that kind of plane?
what is that kind of plane?
How about F-22 is it needed at all? is it too costly? F-35 is cheaper I guess...and seems to be effectice/strong enough to fullfill all air-duties.
What is the future of F-22? is it shadowed?
What is the future of F-22? is it shadowed?
Quote:
looks like SU-47 to me
Ja looks pretty much similar to the Stealth the Movie, did u sawed luigi?
what is that kind of plane?
what is that kind of plane?
looks like SU-47 to me
Quote:
No, the kit for the Mave is exactly that, unfortunately I am not good enough to customize any model. For more info on Mave-chan...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentou_Yousei_Yukikaze
It is a fighter (one of many) from the series Battle Fairy Yukikaze. Look for the FFR-41MR/FRX-00. A shame Wiki gives no photo for the FA-2 Fawn or the Mave herself, but there is the link to the official site at the bottom. BTW, sorry for the delay in the response.
Quote:
Probably that's the reason I like her so much
Quote:
Ahem... Alurri, the F-22 is another thing completely. The F-22 is the successor to the F-15 while the F-35 is supposed to be the next generation of F-16. Besides, I don't trust that much a multirole aircraft that comes with no built-in gun (F-35B which will most likely be the version Italy will need) The five precepts of the Soviet intellectual:“Do not think. If you think then do not speak. If you think and speak then do not write. If you think, speak and write then do not sign. If you think, speak, write and sign then don't be surprised.”
Originally posted by SAS73
Ja looks pretty much similar to the Stealth the Movie, did u sawed luigi?
what is that kind of plane?
Ja looks pretty much similar to the Stealth the Movie, did u sawed luigi?
what is that kind of plane?
No, the kit for the Mave is exactly that, unfortunately I am not good enough to customize any model. For more info on Mave-chan...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentou_Yousei_Yukikaze
It is a fighter (one of many) from the series Battle Fairy Yukikaze. Look for the FFR-41MR/FRX-00. A shame Wiki gives no photo for the FA-2 Fawn or the Mave herself, but there is the link to the official site at the bottom. BTW, sorry for the delay in the response.
Quote:
Originally posted by alexandr
Quote:
looks like SU-47 to me
Quote:
Ja looks pretty much similar to the Stealth the Movie, did u sawed luigi?
what is that kind of plane?
what is that kind of plane?
looks like SU-47 to me
Probably that's the reason I like her so much
Quote:
Originally posted by aluuri
How about F-22 is it needed at all? is it too costly? F-35 is cheaper I guess...and seems to be effectice/strong enough to fullfill all air-duties.
What is the future of F-22? is it shadowed?
How about F-22 is it needed at all? is it too costly? F-35 is cheaper I guess...and seems to be effectice/strong enough to fullfill all air-duties.
What is the future of F-22? is it shadowed?
Ahem... Alurri, the F-22 is another thing completely. The F-22 is the successor to the F-15 while the F-35 is supposed to be the next generation of F-16. Besides, I don't trust that much a multirole aircraft that comes with no built-in gun (F-35B which will most likely be the version Italy will need) The five precepts of the Soviet intellectual:“Do not think. If you think then do not speak. If you think and speak then do not write. If you think, speak and write then do not sign. If you think, speak, write and sign then don't be surprised.”
