Yikes, interesting graphic in choppers link, with such a diverse fleet, the specialization, training and spares management for the first line force must be quite a challenge for a smallish force, with basically a squadron or so of each:

Alpha Jet
AT-6
F-5
F-16 A/B
F-16 MLU
T-50
Gripen

Support fleet just as diverse, from numerous manufactures and all in small numbers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...Thai_Air_Force

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...Thai_Air_Force

https://www.airforcemag.com/south-ko...belly-landing/

So it must have crashed into the air before falling into the sea :E

Interesting to note that the F-35 has now been flying for over 15 years. More than 750 have been built, racking up almost half a million flying hours.

I would have thought the joining into the KF-21 program with South Korea, indonesia and phillipines would have been a better idea

Be interesting to see how much damage it caused and how long the airframe takes to repair.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022...belly-landing/

South Korea grounds F-35A fleet after belly landing

06 Jan 2022 "...ROKAF Vice Chief Of Staff Shin Ok-chul told the South Korea parliament that the pilot heard bangs while flying at low altitude. Checks showed that all systems malfunctioned except flight controls and the engine. Unable to lower the landing gear, the pilot chose to land with the gear up instead of ditching the aircraft...." https://aviationweek.com/defense-spa...fleet-grounded

The JPO has an Ubend Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRK...YykMEl-SI6_skA Same Vid Betta Qual:

If you have access to LinkedIn, the F-35 Joint Program Office is running a contest to vote on which of twelve are the best photos of the F-35.

The contest ends this Friday.

I do not know how to link to the photos.

Salute!

To be honest, last plane to go into actual production and field as many planes in as many years was the Viper back in 1979.

I am happy to see the USN finally confronting the Hornet mafia and having ops sqds on the boats. The Marines figured the thing out 5 years ago and are doing real well.

Gums opines...

Bird strike confirmed in connection with F-35A fighter's belly landing: Air Force 14 Jan 2022
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220114007200325
"SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's F-35A fighter jet made an emergency belly landing following a bird strike on its left engine intake earlier this month, the country's Air Force announced Friday, adding there will be a follow-up investigation on the exact cause of the incident. It made public the results of a preliminary joint probe by South Korea and the United States into what led to the Jan. 4 case..."

True gums, but as I recall the gestation period for the Viper was considerably shorter than the F-35. In fact the gestation period for the F-35 was longer than many fighter aircraft service lives.

I'm not so sure. Just as an example, if you go back to its earliest origins the Eurofighter's gestation period could be said to have lasted from the launch of the Future European Fighter Aircraft programme in 1983 through to delivery of the first operational aircraft to the Luftwaffe in 2003 - 20 years!

Salute!

Agree, TD...

Viper should have set the standard model. The F-35 kept getting changes to the original spec, and looks like they did well until the big contract was awarded. The EPG arrangement for the Viper played a huge role in the transition from the YF-16 to the production model. USAF bought the thing cause with co-production and such, the suckers could roll off the line for a really great price, and GD had a good line concept that actually cranked out lottsa airframes in short order.

We had numerous additions during the 1979 to 1984 years when I flew the thing. Nevertheless, the plane would have done everything that was claimed when the contract was awarded, and we had a very friendly U.S. administration then.

I did not realize the influence of the so-called deep state until working as a government contract weenie. Mod after mod, delay after delay, $$$ after dollar. The folks depending upon continuing a program did more to slow up the F-35 than many realize.

Gums opines...

Perhaps that was a hidden virtue of an active innovation policy as with the Century fighters, the bureaucracy gets so focused on hopping on the next big thing that they neglect screwing up the current efforts.

B61-12 nuclear weapon in F-35A internal weapons bay:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c94a0d4c28.png

Send a copy of that to Vlad, please!

Pretty sure that is the reason for its release/re-release. A gentle reminder of what could be in his lap if he continues his aggression.

“To Russia, With Love”

Liberals launch negotiations to buy F-35 fighter jets 28 Mar 2022 [just before April Fool Day]
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/f-3...ions-1.6399978
"...The decision Monday all but guarantees Lockheed Martin the $19 billion contract for 88 of the ultra-modern fighters...." [Canada Oh Canada]