Originally Posted by
BATCO
F35 Lightning II might be a mouthful. But 'Lightning" isn't. Perhaps we should revert to "Dave"
I can see a likeness in form and colour to the PzKpfw V Panther.
Courtesy of the Bundesarchiv
Isn't Panther another name for a Cougar......
<Nerd mode on>I assume
Lightning (II) was thought to be a good thing politically for US-UK relations. However, I thought it was just
Lightning in the UK, Did anyone ever actually refer to the F-4 as the
Phantom II? The original
Phantom was the FH-1 the USN equivalent of the RN's Attackers. Apparently there was a desire among the USN F-35 community, and possibly others, to rename it
Reaper as "
Lightning II wasn't intimidating enough". Googling gives other names used as
Fat Amy and
Battle Penguin.
Lightning like any name can get discarded once exported
The IDF/AF call it the
Adir =
Mighty. The name given F16C/D block 30s was
Barak =
Lightning and Block 40s were
Barak II - so
Lightning II
It may not be a USAF reuse but if official surely it would have to be
Panther II or has the F9F also been forgotten? Also the AS565
Panther is the military version of the Eurocopter AS365
Dauphin. And once they reach Lakenheath they will be alongside the F-15Es of the 494th FS "Panthers"<Nerd mode off>
I am still prepared to argue for Sea Fury for the UKs Bs.
