Rhino ---
Quite a lively display put on by the F-35A at RIAT today...
That was not the opinion of all of those ex and current aviators around me in the Aviation Club at RIAT on the 13th. In comparison with Typhoon, Rafale and F18, it underperformed noticeably, leaving us very underwhelmed. The general view was we'll have to wait and see (obviously). Comments from F35 pilots at Marham that there are many outstanding features that cannot yet be revealed will hopefully transpire.
In 1999, when I was trying to seduce the RAAF with Typhoon, in Canberra, the F35 team appeared on scene, asserting that their product would be significantly cheaper than Typhoon, far less time to IOC, and with far superior 5th generation capability. The first two of these have proved to be false (even taking
all of Eurofighter history into account), with the latter far from substantiated at this point. But, we are committed, along with the carriers, and I hope (with a little trepidation) that the confidence of the Marham aircrew will be justified.