The reaction to the report from the F-35 Project Office was “thorough, professional, well-documented and useful to the F-35 Enterprise.”
Having quickly scanned through the document my thoughts would include the words "frightening" and "worrying" as well! Or is this the norm for major aviation projects such as this? A lot of the faults found seem to be what I would consider (as a non-engineer I hasten to add!) basic engineering practice (tool control/management and test equipment calibration are just two highlighted under BAE).
From an aviators point of view page 61-63 does not make comfortable reading. Whilst I accept there will always be an element of risk in flying to ignore public law and DoD policy with regards to critical safety items is surely just asking for trouble.
On a positive point at least the faults have been highlighted now rather than 10 years down the line!
Wonder how this went down in Whitehall?