Disappointing F35 display at RIAT
I agree that to work up a full 'Display' would have involved an inordinate amount of work and supervision in the short time available That said, a Role Demo could certainly have been put together with far less effort. The latter could still be made dynamic and exciting to watch even if not in the category of an aerobatic display.
If BA can put a 744 up to lead a 10-ship formation at a UK air show then the F35 Force certainly missed a trick!
If BA can put a 744 up to lead a 10-ship formation at a UK air show then the F35 Force certainly missed a trick!
My own take on the situation is, when ever I've seen the F-35A at an air show, and that was very recently at Volkel, the display has been very punchy with plenty of vertical energy climbs. The Volkel aircraft didn't display as such, like the UK F-35B, it did a couple of passes. However, the first was straight from the take off, the jet disappeared out of sight into the stratosphere in full burner. It later returned for a high speed run and break away from the crowd line to repeat the Saturn V impersonation. This was one of two jets which the Dutch currently have at Leeuwarden. Whenever I've seen the 'B', its always been a couple of times round followed by a spot of thrust vectoring then serenely away, as if he doesn't have fuel for anything else?
FB
PS and always with that Bloody lid sticking up like someone's left the hood of the car up at one end or the other!
FB
PS and always with that Bloody lid sticking up like someone's left the hood of the car up at one end or the other!
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It was mentioned on Saturday that the F-35 arrived low on fuel, hence it’s display was much shorter and simpler than what we saw on the Friday. The display on the Friday was a “prop display” with hovering etc. rather than just some flybys. Unfortunately, some didn’t know it arrived low on fuel and did a much shorter display, but quickly jumped to the wrong defence.
And WHY was it short of fuel? Because it doesn't have enough to start with?
Perhaps the "chilled bowsers" are in as short supply as well as the, err, buckets fuel capacity??
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Interesting to note the Spotter/Professional ratio here. Very sad.
Anyway, to display the F-35 properly would mean nobody could see it.
Anyway, to display the F-35 properly would mean nobody could see it.
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[QUOTE=nivsy;10525347]
Just observing on the quality of some inputs.
And no, not a Spotter. Spent enough years of my life looking at it professionally to want to go to an air show.
And no, not a Spotter. Spent enough years of my life looking at it professionally to want to go to an air show.
I’d bet that more than a few professionals on here got the aviation bug through going to airshows when they were kids, most then pass this interest on to their kids as well. We should be trying to encourage interest in aviation, after all it only takes a few years (+ enormous holds) to go form small ‘spotter’ to aircrew, or engineer, or even blunty.
At least when I went to air displays all those years ago, the spectator line wasn't the province of fat men in silly hats, cargo shorts and camouflaged waistcoats covered in badges, toting hugely expensive camera equipment as they wobble about on little aluminium stepladders.
It might come as a surprise to some to learn that air displays are not put on solely for the benefit of snappers.
RAF F-35B participation at RIAT will undoubtedly have been the best that could be achieved under the constraints of ongoing operations and the relative low levels of experience on type.
It might come as a surprise to some to learn that air displays are not put on solely for the benefit of snappers.
RAF F-35B participation at RIAT will undoubtedly have been the best that could be achieved under the constraints of ongoing operations and the relative low levels of experience on type.
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I really don't believe that the F-35 program is so packed with items that they couldn't spare one to give a half decent display - it is after all the tax payers who own the things.
And then people ask "why doesn't the public support defence" - probably because they never see it ................
And then people ask "why doesn't the public support defence" - probably because they never see it ................
You, or the taxpayer has ZERO right to "see" anything, sorry.
[QUOTE=MPN11;10525348]I do hear ya. Shame.the top brass don't quite think the same all with their pressed outfits and side kicks on tow rolling into Fairford for corporate hospitality! More of them.than RAF aircraft present.
Once upon a time we retained some aircraft whilst a new one was introduced. The Vulcan wound down as the GR 1 wound up. Lightning’s and Phantoms overlapped the F3.
As a result newly introduced aircraft had time to reach full operational capability. The arb scrapping of the Harrier combined with the premature demise of the GR 4 means the F35 is forced to run before walking.
its little surprise they do not have the resources to generate a display aircraft. I for one would rather the display pilot that is eventually selected has a decent number of hours on type and completes the work up program as outlined by previous posters.
I have no no idea what gate heights would be used on an F35 but suspect they may be different to a Typhoon, Jaguar or GR4.
As a result newly introduced aircraft had time to reach full operational capability. The arb scrapping of the Harrier combined with the premature demise of the GR 4 means the F35 is forced to run before walking.
its little surprise they do not have the resources to generate a display aircraft. I for one would rather the display pilot that is eventually selected has a decent number of hours on type and completes the work up program as outlined by previous posters.
I have no no idea what gate heights would be used on an F35 but suspect they may be different to a Typhoon, Jaguar or GR4.
Once upon a time we retained some aircraft whilst a new one was introduced. The Vulcan wound down as the GR 1 wound up. Lightning’s and Phantoms overlapped the F3.
As a result newly introduced aircraft had time to reach full operational capability. The arb scrapping of the Harrier combined with the premature demise of the GR 4 means the F35 is forced to run before walking.
its little surprise they do not have the resources to generate a display aircraft. I for one would rather the display pilot that is eventually selected has a decent number of hours on type and completes the work up program as outlined by previous posters.
I have no no idea what gate heights would be used on an F35 but suspect they may be different to a Typhoon, Jaguar or GR4.
As a result newly introduced aircraft had time to reach full operational capability. The arb scrapping of the Harrier combined with the premature demise of the GR 4 means the F35 is forced to run before walking.
its little surprise they do not have the resources to generate a display aircraft. I for one would rather the display pilot that is eventually selected has a decent number of hours on type and completes the work up program as outlined by previous posters.
I have no no idea what gate heights would be used on an F35 but suspect they may be different to a Typhoon, Jaguar or GR4.
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I’m not surprised they didn’t have time to get a display authorisation for more.....I am surprised the thing is delivered and goes pretty much straight to front line. Doesn’t the typhoon have the capability to bomb ?
Still we still have the typhoon show which is great - I’d love to ask the pilot how he does the last bit - half loop straight to landing - how’s he get enough drag for that ? Very impressive.
Tucanos come back....but what happened to the hawk T2 pair , that was pretty good !
Still we still have the typhoon show which is great - I’d love to ask the pilot how he does the last bit - half loop straight to landing - how’s he get enough drag for that ? Very impressive.
Tucanos come back....but what happened to the hawk T2 pair , that was pretty good !
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Actually Stitchbitch I got my thing for aviation talking to a very pleasant German Me109 pilot who had just been brought in to wait to be picked up. I was about 4 years old. Nevar found out who he was!
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The Dutch seem able to "display" a '35 without the long tail of workup and backup that a full on display team involves.
Mind you they can also open the gates to a front line base once a year, assemble a decent international presence and display pretty much everything they own in reasonable numbers, on the ground and in the air, the piece de la resistance being the Air Power demo, this years was 10 F-16's, similar number of Helos plus a C130. And get this for a clincher, they do it for free, with a distinct lack of corporates in attendance. You know, as if it it were being done primarily for the benefit of the (tax) paying public.
Crazy concept or what?
Mind you they can also open the gates to a front line base once a year, assemble a decent international presence and display pretty much everything they own in reasonable numbers, on the ground and in the air, the piece de la resistance being the Air Power demo, this years was 10 F-16's, similar number of Helos plus a C130. And get this for a clincher, they do it for free, with a distinct lack of corporates in attendance. You know, as if it it were being done primarily for the benefit of the (tax) paying public.
Crazy concept or what?
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It's been around for a couple of years now, at least in OT&E, it's just been all US based so relatively invisible to us. The recent op debut in the sandpit will have been very carefully orchestrated, in all ways, from the risk of the thing being shot down to ensuring max PR benefit back home. Good practice all the same. And, yes, Typhoon is now our primary bomb carrying platform since Tornado went OOS.