F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
...As the F-35B continues to do well off of the large amphibs and is going to become IOC soon.
...As the F-35C has done so well in its initial tests aboard the carrier and is moving forward..
...As the F-35A numbers continue to swell and as it approaches IOC.

The F-35 overall program is settling down nicely, and prices continue to fall.

Our partners/allies have and are taking part in the testing. The Royal Navy was involved closely with the recent F-35B operational tests aboard our LHD.

This is the most extensively tested aircraft in history. It is going to be a very strong 5th generation/stealth strike aircraft and serve for decades with our Air Force, Marines and Navy and that of our allies.

With something approaching 3,500 aircraft (or more) ultimately planned...it is also going to be the most highly produced and prolific 5th generation aircraft on the planet.
 
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Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
Initial Operational Capability...it means that the aircraft is operational, but with a limited set of its anticipated full capabilities.

One day they will pronounce the aircraft FOC, Full Operational Capability.

My brother Dan will be in Oshkosh today at EAA Air Venture, the F-35 is making its civilian air-sho debut there this week, static displays, and hopefully a few fly-bys are on the schedule, maybe Dan will shoot me a few pictures?

actually he just sent me a picture with an F-22 and an F-35 parked on the ramp, surrounded by Joe Q public.

that's the difference here in the US we get to see and understand what we are buying and why, and get to see the finished product and see it perform. Its called "ownership" and a lot of Americans are still very concerned about our own defense. DOD is very open when they are able, and our military is all volunteer, not conscripts, nice people who have a desire to serve their country.
 
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Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
F-35 at Oshkosh. Touch and go and then just a static display but it's a start.


not a touch and go but a "go around" on the video, much better in my book, love to see the transition from gear down to up and going, as the gear comes up and back into a climb configuration, while poor old Deino is languishing over there hovering over the J-20 thread, the AFB is getting a full dose of real airplanes here on the F-35 thread, my little brother is "there", but he will be in full afterburner, unable to slow down and take pictures even though I gave him some very specific instructions, but you get the full deal here on Strehls video.

oh and the video following shows the B-52 also arriving at Oshkosh for the first time, very kool day here in the USA, I should have taken off and gone myself? what was I thinking?

"Go USA"
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
not a touch and go but a "go around" on the video, much better in my book, love to see the transition from gear down to up and going, as the gear comes up and back into a climb configuration, while poor old Deino is languishing over there hovering over the J-20 thread, the AFB is getting a full dose of real airplanes here on the F-35 thread, my little brother is "there", but he will be in full afterburner, unable to slow down and take pictures even though I gave him some very specific instructions, but you get the full deal here on Strehls video.

oh and the video following shows the B-52 also arriving at Oshkosh for the first time, very kool day here in the USA, I should have taken off and gone myself? what was I thinking?

"Go USA"

In fairness the Russians have displayed PAK-FA at MAKs, they like their PR as well, sadly we are unlikely to see the lovely J-20 do her thing in public, I would think it would also make a great air-sho bird? Its always great to see these aircraft put through their paces in a vigorous manor.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
My brother Dan will be in Oshkosh today at EAA Air Venture, the F-35 is making its civilian air-sho debut there this week, static displays, and hopefully a few fly-bys are on the schedule, maybe Dan will shoot me a few pictures?

actually he just sent me a picture with an F-22 and an F-35 parked on the ramp, surrounded by Joe Q public.

Taken by Air Force Brat IV this morning at Witman Field during Air Venture 2015, wish we were all there together.
 

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Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator

You can see visually that the ThunderHogge II is a much different animal than the F-22, and while our sister forum DT will moan and bemoan that there was not and is not a Hi/Lo strategy in the USAF, here we see the Hi-F-22 and the Lo-F-35A. The visual contrast is indeed very sharp, the long lean mean wing, with the short bulbous lead sled, two very different animals for two very different missions.

The F-22 will remain the most formidable high altitude performer on the planet, an aerial sniper, the F-35 will get down and dirty and in spite of its bulbous appearance, has very benign flying characteristics that will make it an "every-mans" airplane. It will work, and it would not do to underestimate the F-35, I do still lean toward the C, and it won't at some point surprise me to see the A get a bigger wing and tail, as well as an uprated F135 engine? but that is in the tea leaves?

I have a few more images that I will post, which you may feel free to use? hopefully get to that today?
 
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