What was definitely 'dumb', in my view ( others can disagree) was the UK MoD's two year game of 'F-35 variant hokey-cokey'. Swapping from B to C and back again disrupted the STOVL test programme and, I think, made the UK look less than professional.
I would not disagree too much with that statement
except it must be remembered that the carriers had been 'sold' to us as completeable (new word
) as either a ski jump carrier or a conventional carrier with cats n traps but of course the reality was a little more er complicated than that...it usually is when wastospace and politicians are involved !
The thing to grasp is that ski jump ops are a low risk area of the F-35B programme
Glad to hear it - wouldnt be surprised if somebody had said that about the tailhook on the 'C' ; )
rgds LR