Roundel looks stupid on F35

[The B Word]

Just seen where they are putting the Roundel on the F35 and, to me, its looks rather odd. It would look far better aft of the intake IMHO...

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/homepage/F35_Lightning_II_arrived_at_Edwards_AFB_15jan2015_300x234.jp g

To me it makes it look like a deranged bird with a crazy eye - seen some of those in Nottingham and York in my time! :eek:

The B Word

[Finnpog]

Good call. I agree.
I was feeling like a Grinch looking at it.

[Vendee]

It doesn't look right because its a red/white/blue roundel instead of the more common "low vis" red and blue version.

[Kitbag]

Given the shape of the ac it's no surprise the national markings have to be placed thus. No different to Tornado really, probably what it emphasises though is the lack of adherence to the 'if it looks right...' school of thought. Personally I think the F-35B programme is a massive white elephant, the other 2 variants are being compromised unnecessarily.

[RUCAWO]

Roundel looks ok, the F-35 looks stupid :E

[Buster Hyman]

Yes, much betterer on the intake...

http://theaviationist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/RAAF-F-35-first-flight-turn.jpg

[iRaven]

Yup, stupid is as stupid does...

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/7D4C5F8F_5056_A318_A85481BEAD2EF6BC.jpg

...put it on the intake like the old Harrier.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/0B0DD0F7_1143_EC82_2EBA743087B4360B.gif

[iRaven]

This is much better

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/04/0d/e8/30/the-royal-air-force-museum.jpg

[163627]

I wonder if 809 NAS will be allowed to have "Royal Navy" on their squadron's aircraft?

[Buster Hyman]

In fairness, I guess the Vulcan, Buccaneer, and Tornado have them under the cockpit. They're the only ones I can think of off the top of my head.

[AR1]

Gloster Javelin came to mind on fist view!

[Buster Hyman]

Gloster Javelin came to mind on fist view!
Fist view? Is that a pay per view channel on Sky? :p

Vought Cutlass was another one...what a shocker! Had that 'tail heavy' look that the Javelin had, minus the worlds biggest tail of course.

[Lookleft]

I wonder if the same comment was made about the black and white paint schemes on the underside of the first Spitfires?:ok:

[Stanwell]

Well, at least that scheme had a very practical purpose.
That being to reduce the number of 'own goals' scored by the excitable triple-A crews.

[Davef68]

It doesn't look right because its a red/white/blue roundel instead of the more common "low vis" red and blue version.

Actually, its a grey/grey roundel (which I will agree does look a bit silly)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/04/01/article-2594439-1CBE758900000578-223_964x685.jpg

The first few UK aircraft didnt have a fuselage roundel. It has to go on the nose, as being a naval aircraft under USN rules it needs the intake warning markings.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_maxb08YOBh1r489eoo1_1280.jpg

[Audax]

Looked pretty good under the cockpit of a real Lightning

[snippy]

The RAF will use transfers so it will end up on the intake.....it will be on the inside when it rips off....

[dat581]

They could just make it a little smaller and put it on that panel just back from the slime lights on the intake side.

[sandozer]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandozer/14688656240/in/set-72157624815976825

[XR219]

Presumably, the monochrome insignia is because they only make the F-35's magic radar-absorbing paint in two shades of grey? That works OK when you have a distinctive insignia shape like the US or Australians, but when your national markings are reduced to a grey ring and a grey stripe on a grey background, it might be worth asking the paint manufacturers if they could do you a few more colours....

[Buster Hyman]

Perhaps a silhouette of the Queen would be distinctive? Works on the coins...

[Martin the Martian]

Serious thought. Could this lead to the consideration of a more distinctive shape for a national marking? Quite frankly, this aircraft could belong to any one of a number of air forces.

[glad rag]

I wonder if 809 NAS will be allowed to have "Royal Navy" on their squadron's aircraft?

Wouldn't put it past them, then the taxpayer can pick up the tab for reinstating the "stealth" conductive coatings....

[Lonewolf_50]

Presumably, the monochrome insignia is because they only make the F-35's magic radar-absorbing paint in two shades of grey? I think you'll find that in Fed Standard 595C, there are about fifty shades of gray available to choose from. :E

[Coltishall. loved it]

I think you will see that once that "steps access panel" is closed, you
will see a tiny "2" above the "0" ...makes sense. If you can't paint it red white and blue, get some add revenue out of it!

[taxydual]

Perhaps another point of view.

The F35 looks stupid on the roundel.........






Hat, coat etc

[Biggus]

taxydual,

Isn't that pretty much what post 5 said?

[longer ron]

Not much to worry about - they will be spending much of their time in the maintenance hangar - either here or in turkey - come to think of it - with this 'aircart' - going to turkey for maintenance actually makes sense :)

[CoffmanStarter]

Such national ident frippery is redundant once the Klingon Cloaking Device is activated :}

[Finnpog]

Any colour you want... As long as it's grey?

https://globalaviationreport.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/2013_cf6_aerial_f13_26957pr_1267828237_7581.jpg?w=1280

:ugh: :hmm:

[taxydual]

Biggus, you're right.

Egg (again) on my face.

Must engage brain before operating keyboards.

[ShotOne]

"This roundel could belong to any number of nations..." Dead right. Indeed it more closely resembles Argentinan Air Force insignia than anything of ours. No doubt the "toning down" is very important. But does there come a point where we'd simply be better off without?

[BBadanov]

"But does there come a point where we'd simply be better off without?"


There are, of course, international regulations on the need for military aircraft to have national markings.


But the "baby" blue and "gay" pink roundel would look better - and more identifiable - than a grey disk.

[chopper2004]

The Dutch 35s have grey roundel but it's distinctive, however they have the same grey roundel on their new CH-47F...and funnily enough they are painted grey and not green camouflage...

Although wondering when're ShotOne' s suggestion of removing roudel, guess it would not be a problem by rules of war, if Royal Air Force was stencilled across ?

Cheers and Happy Friday 13th :E

[Willard Whyte]

"This roundel could belong to any number of nations..." Dead right. Indeed it more closely resembles Argentinan Air Force insignia than anything of ours.

Or, for that matter, El Salvador

http://cocardes.monde.online.fr/v2html/cocardes/argentine.jpg

Greece

http://cocardes.monde.online.fr/v2html/cocardes/grece.jpg

or Finland

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ5K2-biOBbo9b6YNouKYhfKJ-zgscYDv5SdxY7xk0mh-slJC5LQA

[XR219]

The baby blue/pink roundel was intended to reduce contrast against light grey camouflage. Good old Post Office Red and Roundel Blue would be more appropriate for the F-35's FS36170 Camouflage Gray.

Incidentally, one does wonder why the white ring wasn't re-introduced with the baby blue and pink, since the original reason for deleting it was no longer there...

[MSOCS]

This has got to be the most boring thread going. Mods, can you move this to the train spotters section please..

I mean, seriously, you're now debating paint jobs?

Hahahahaha.

[Martin the Martian]

So why did you bother to read it all the way through?

[MSOCS]

I didn't.

If you notice, you can go straight to the latest page.

finger..pulse...

[salad-dodger]

How do know it's boring then? There may be some very insightful and witty discussion on the first page.

It is by the way (boring), and no there isn't.

S-D

[Stu666]

Stick a grey lightning bolt through it, as per Sandozers pic, problem solved :E

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandoz...57624815976825

[Coltishall. loved it]

This is riveting compared to the "exciting" conversation on the goat talking about......"The shelf life of air deffs!!"

[Willard Whyte]

It's better than the caption comp thread.