re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread
An F-35 aircraft had an engine problem. It was identified as not being related to that specific aircraft, but to the engine itself in general.
As a result, all aircraft are grounded until they find out what the problem is. This is for safety reasons first.
This is also costly.
It will sow seeds of doubt in some minds.
It will give some ammunition to people who are looking for reasons to naysay the program anyway.
It will cause some potential, or even existing customers, who are budget strapped and who have political hurdles with the aircradt anyway to potentially lessen their support.
It will also cost time and money...the longer it goes, the more of each.
All of that, to one degree or another, is negative.
But as some have said, it is not abnormal on such a program. That's just the plain truth.
Even though it is not abnormal, and anyone who has been directly involved with such a large program know this, that does not mean it is not a big deal for as long as it lasts. It's both a normal occurrence, and a big deal.
But I will make the following predictions, and feel completely comfortable making them.
1) GE is going to find and resolve this issue fairly quickly. They have very bright people, and it is an absolutely critical program for the company.
2) The testing, flight programs, and continued preparations for IOC for the Marines, Air Force, and then Navy are going to pick right back up and continue making good progress as soon as the resolution is had.
3) Customers are going to continue with the program. They know the US and its suppliers, as well as suppliers from those partner nations, are wholly dedicated to this and will not let it fail in the least.
4) The F-35 will go into full production for all three aircraft.
5) The F-35 will end up being the most widely available, the most widely exported, and cheapest full production 5th generation aircraft available.
6) The F-35 will be, once all the doctrine taking advantage of its amazing capabilities are developed and put to use, will set the overall standard for effectiveness in both the attack and air defense role.
7) The F-35 will ultimately be known as the F-16 of its era.
Does this mean there will not be problems? Of course not. It will do these things in spite of the problems.
Does this mean it will not have some weaknesses that potential adversaries will seek to take advantage of? Of course not. Every weapons systems has advantages and vulnerabilities.
Just the same, I believe without doubt that time will prove these predictions correct.
based on my experience with Czech and Polish "popular" articles describing military technology, I think the article is ... reasonable; regurgitates 
