F-35 Cancelled, then what ?

[SpazSinbad]

Thanks 'alfred the great' for that info. So we can carry out some rubbery maths of 220 days per year at sea (with only one CVF available at any one time). Not all days will be flying days most likely. What is a guesstimate for that statistic? How many F-35Bs will be aboard in this first 3 year period? I guess there will be surge exercises with a lesser usual number for long cruises, showing the flag and scaring the natives.

For onboard CVF F-35B ops once trials and deck quals complete then I would imagine out of an hour sortie that only five minutes will be in STOVL mode. One minute for short take off and four minutes for a VL (with any SRVLs perhaps upping that time a little perhaps - whereas we are told SRVLs will ease engine loads but increase brake maintenance perhaps).

Not forgetting it is likely the CVFs will have at least one portable FMS onboard to also help 'remaining current requirements' to be eased.