you then just add the element of STOVL trg for those destined for the B. Remember the Mission Systems of F-35 family are 99% the same.
My bold. Once on type though, how much cross-pol would there actually be? Absolutely agree on the mission systems, but the airframe and lift engine? Emergency procedures? Non-aircrew training? It's an additional cost which always gets the accountants (and eventually SO1s) salivating.
The selection of the A over the C would actually save on the requirement to train, because there is no additional burden to train cats and traps which is a massive overhead (FCLP etc)
Don't recall suggesting the C. I'm just questioning why you'd add another type.
Sorry but the whole orphan paranoia is exactly that, paranoia. The F-35B fleet will be very difficult to cull while there are Carriers.
Once (in fact twice) bitten, twice shy. Understand and grudgingly agree with the 2010 rationale. However, why risk repeating history? There were carriers in 2009 - miraculously in 2011 there were none.
What ORAC said....