Not too long ago, F-35B was grounded following a particularly unfavourable QDR report. How to address the issues? No problem. Embark a pair of F-35B’s on USS Wasp for sea trials. The photo shoot which followed was enough to persuade Cameron (no slouch himself when it comes to
PR manipulation) to reverse the decision which he had previously reversed, and get back on track with the STORVL. Full circle. Two pilots from the UK are currently training with VMFAT-501. There is a write up in the local rag with this quote from a USMC Colonel:
“The F-35 would not be here today if it wasn’t for the U.K.,”
Thanks for that, Boot, and Britain would not be committed to building two JSF compliant STORVL carriers for the price of three Super Hornet conventional flight deck carriers if it wasn't for the USMC.