Originally Posted by kbrokman
Apart from the apparent advantages of going with VTOL
-Useable on land without a proper runway at hand, close to the frontline.
-no arrestor wire and cat necessary
-looks megacool.
While I agree with the thrust of your post (255) I might take issue with these points.
Close to the frontline: Remind me how expensive these jets are?
No arrestor wire and cat necessary: Which normally means reduced payload, fuel, etc.
Looks megacool: Where do I start? It's supposed to be a fast jet, not a helicopter - helicopters hovering and landing look cool, jets doing it do not. Going really fast looks cool, sitting ove and airfield at a display and bowing to the nearby sewage farm does not. Watching a25 tons of hurtling metal and thrust being caught by a trap and stopping on a carrier deck looks megacool - flopping onto the same deck in an undignified manner does not.
Partly in jest, partly...