View Full Version : So what we going to do now the F35 is grounded?
glad rag
11th Oct 2018, 14:57
And just what is a "fuel tube" btw...
Just This Once...
11th Oct 2018, 15:00
Carry on flying it.
Linedog
11th Oct 2018, 15:00
https://news.sky.com/story/pentagon-grounds-global-fleet-of-f-35-fighter-jets-after-first-ever-crash-11523599
hoodie
11th Oct 2018, 15:30
https://www.facebook.com/royalnavy/posts/10156766650888205
Contrary to reports, all F-35 jets have not been grounded.
We have paused some F-35 flying as a precautionary measure while we consider the findings of an ongoing enquiry.
Flight trials from HMS Queen Elizabeth continue and the programme remains on schedule.
Addendum: There was supposed to be a link to the FB post where that quote comes from, but it seems PPRuNe strips those links out.
ethicalconundrum
11th Oct 2018, 15:42
I will go out on a limb and opine that the 'fuel tube' is a metal tube which carries fuel. From where, and to where, I will not speculate.
In the civilian world this would be a emergency AD, and all operators would be notified. Since it's not civ, and we know each and every operator of the plane, they can be grounded rather quickly.
Herod
11th Oct 2018, 16:02
The Pentagon has grounded a global fleet of F-35 fighter jets after one of the planes crashed for the first time.
I don't think it's in any condition to crash for a second time
glad rag
11th Oct 2018, 16:03
I don't think it's in any condition to crash for a second time
I don't know, it IS the holy grail.
Pontius Navigator
11th Oct 2018, 16:06
Maintenance stand downs are not new and you would look pretty stupid to say it was a one-off and lose a second.
One we experienced many years ago, I can't remember the details, meant we could not start engines except in a war emergency. I think this lasted 2-3 weeks.
NutLoose
11th Oct 2018, 16:29
Ouch
https://thenewsrep.com/101359/air-force-admits-it-cant-afford-massive-operating-costs-of-f-35-fleet-may-reduce-order/
Buster15
11th Oct 2018, 17:15
Ouch
https://thenewsrep.com/101359/air-force-admits-it-cant-afford-massive-operating-costs-of-f-35-fleet-may-reduce-order/
High cost of operating and maintenance and not procurement then.
Must be massively expensive to do so if the USAF are considering reducing their numbers by one third.
You would have assumed that such costs would have been contractually determined prior to certification.
Anyway if true this is really bad news for the UK as procurement costs are factored against numbers of sales.
Let's hope that it is really worth it....