RP, I think we'd all like that to happen.

I believe I addressed that already, thanks, in terms of orders being cancelled, or likely to be. It is one thing "to question it" and about 450 pages later I don't see what is going on as "question it" but something else entirely. Glue manufacture, mostly. What I find the most disappointing, is the software piece. This aircraft seems to be more software dependent, not less. I suspect that this will amplify problems in configuration and deployment.


Given what I was doing about a decade and a half ago related to a program that DID get cancelled, and the software challenges there, maybe I should not be surprised/disappointed.

Any good piece of news about F-35 program?

As an interested taxpayer, amongst other things, the postings of MSOCS are coming across as rather more LM PR than UK military with knowledge (that they can't speak of... !) of the inside workings of the program.


From a purely human point of view if all is fine with the program and all will be revealed to the disappointment and shame of the so called naysayers I would have thought that shutting up and cracking on with the delivery asap would be sufficient reward for such an "insider."


Yet here we have strident and constant posturing in support of the program, claims of harassment whenever inconsistencies in the posturing are pointed out and to top it all actual harassment of those whose views differ from the apparent "insider" view.

Disappointment and shame? Is such possible?

I'm not an LM employee Snafu and apologise if my exuberance for F-35 convinces you otherwise. I assure you that I'd rather inform on this forum - where I can, that is - rather than it spiral into bickering, inexorably.

1. It's not cancelled.
2. They keep delivering aircraft


What do you consider good news?

Snafu, I think the point about who works form whom, or more importantly who doesn't, has been thrashed to death here. MSOCS has answered that accusation more than enough times now. What's the point of keep accusing him?

He is a sensible debater with an opinion based on something other than his employer.

Er, just wait a moment, Spaz will be along shortly with videos of more successful take-offs and landings followed by pilot testimonies of how great everything is.

Wouldn't mind seeing a sales invoice from LM showing a delivery price for today's aircraft of $80M, but then that probably wouldn't include the engine and a few other things, forget it...

... let alone a FFP number for getting it to an IOC standard.

Some not so good news about the Charlie: Testing was halted back in November after a "small crack" was found in the titanium wing spar, which was downplayed at the time by JPO spokesperson Joe DellaVedova, "Such discoveries are expected during a developmental test program." Note that the JPO was more or less forced to respond to press reports about the cracks - the JPO had not released news of the casualty publicly. Testing resumed in February after repairs, but was halted 3 days later after strain gauges detected further cracking.

Another set back, but I am not surprised that any/each bump in the road is not publicized. Think about it: if you were running the program, would you go out of your way to stress the issues that arise? That's counter intuitive.


Let the press work for their pay.


People running the tech side probably want to be left alone to solve the problems. From what you say, that crack does not look related to the hook problem that was previously solved, and given where it is ... wonder how long the actual fix / redesign will take?

@ Courtney & MSOCS, I wasn't claiming that somebody actually was an employee of LM. I was merely making the point that the current postings rather tended to give that impression. I don't know either way.


However for me endless positive outpourings given the program timeframe, cost to date, actual progress and delivery to date seem logically strange; particularly when the evident desire or need to attempt, somewhat aggressively, to counter simple observation of all of the above four elements is noted.

You must be reading a different thread than me.....:rolleyes:

I see. So any messenger who brings positive news must be yet another bought and paid for stooge of LM, no matter who they actually work for, apparently even including USN test pilots. And any messenger who brings negative news must be a sainted emissary from the gods providing divine warning of imminent doom. And yes, that last sentence was a bit exaggerated. But sadly only a bit.

And "endless positive outpourings"? On THIS thread?!! Or from the media in THIS universe? There appears to be some kind of parallel universe quite different from this one.

Are the chicks hot there? :cool: (Imo, this thread would benefit from the occasional Slasher input, just to keep the tone lighter ...)

Hey Ken, here is good news on the F-35 and certainly I am no stooge of LM. In fact, there are three good news versions:

!. LM good news version :ok:
https://www.f35.com/news

2. Defense News good news version :uhoh:
F-35 Will Fly Until 2070 ? Six Years Longer Than Planned

3. Breaking Defense good news version :confused:
Current F-35 Costs Drop, But Total Costs Go Up « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary

So there you have it, three good news stories to peruse at your leisure...;)
Enjoy and have a good weekend.:)

So the unit price of an F-35B when averaged over the life of the program in 'then year' dollars is a snip at $134M.

Probably best not to buy the early aircraft if you want to save the odd billion.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-c...-f-35-purchase

This is obviously a bite, I wonder how many people will nibble?

Happy April 1st, Internetz!!