Interesting article on the Lockheed F-35 JSF...

[NFS4]

...from a different [RAAF] perspective:

http://www.sci.fi/~fta/aviat-6.htm

 

[SuperTool]

I think it's a mistake to put all eggs in one basket.
We have given LMT a monopoly on fighter production, and we are betting too much on one plane to fit all roles.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
I think it's a mistake to put all eggs in one basket.
We have given LMT a monopoly on fighter production, and we are betting too much on one plane to fit all roles.

Reminds me of the F-111 from the 60's/70's. Trying to please both the Navy and the Air Force. Now Lockheed is trying to please the Air Force, Navy AND Marines...I smell sh!t hitting the fan.

 

[da loser]

well, there was no way to sustain more than a few companies, since the end of the cold war. plus although lockheed is the head designer, they still part out the work to other companies like boeing. the thing about the f-111 and the f-35 is the f-111 is huge and has a long range, and is essentially a bomber, which australia needs. the f-35 is a small fighter, they want to replace the f-111 with a f-35 strictly because no f-111 type aircraft exists. i wonder if they have the budget to possibly have some us companies design a plane for their needs. maybe the us would be willing to part with the b-1 when the military finally scraps it, kinda like when the us gave the old f-111 stuff to australia.

even though they say the design is for all services, it's essentially just like the f-18 which was originally designed for the f-15s role then later modified for the navy, so i think they're going to do the same thing with the f-35, fulfill all requirements by minimal airframe changes to fit the needs of the navy and marines; so really it's 3 different planes with interchangeable parts.

i agree we shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket, we should hold prototype (x-craft) and design competitions every decade to advance our technical expertise. but that is expensive, and we really have no competition. plus the next wave of uavs are just around the corner, so that'll fill the need for a loitering bomber. i wonder what classified planes are in the works. hopefully one with insect like agility.

 

[ElFenix]

they're probably right. we should have craft that can sortie from a variety of ranges.

 

[SlowSS]

Originally posted by: da loser
well, there was no way to sustain more than a few companies, since the end of the cold war. plus although lockheed is the head designer, they still part out the work to other companies like boeing.

Nope. The boeing company isn't getting any work from LMT, instead LMT is giving large portion of JSF effort to an European company called BAE.

i wonder what classified planes are in the works.

I work with Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle program, funny thing is that here in Phantom Works,
everything is so classified that I don't even know what other groups within Phantom Works
are working on. I'm pretty sure it is same way at the Skunk Works (LMT).

My program

 

[911paramedic]

Originally posted by: SlowSS

Originally posted by: da loser
well, there was no way to sustain more than a few companies, since the end of the cold war. plus although lockheed is the head designer, they still part out the work to other companies like boeing.

Nope. The boeing company isn't getting any work from LMT, instead LMT is giving large portion of JSF effort to an Europena company called BAE.

i wonder what classified planes are in the works.

I work with Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle program, funny thing is that here in Phantom Works,
everything is so classified that I don't even know what other groups within Phantom Works
are working on. I'm pretty sure it is same way at the Skunk Works (LMT).

My program

Think you should disclose what projects you are working on over there??

 

[SlowSS]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic

Originally posted by: SlowSS

Originally posted by: da loser
well, there was no way to sustain more than a few companies, since the end of the cold war. plus although lockheed is the head designer, they still part out the work to other companies like boeing.

Nope. The boeing company isn't getting any work from LMT, instead LMT is giving large portion of JSF effort to an Europena company called BAE.

i wonder what classified planes are in the works.

I work with Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle program, funny thing is that here in Phantom Works,
everything is so classified that I don't even know what other groups within Phantom Works
are working on. I'm pretty sure it is same way at the Skunk Works (LMT).

My program

Think you should disclose what projects you are working on over there??

This website is for the public consumption so it is cleared through the boeing company.

It doesn't say much but does satisfy public's curiosity.

 

[Gunbuster]

We need a jet that transforms, we should pay Japan to build us a real VF-1S 😉

 

[NFS4]

even though they say the design is for all services, it's essentially just like the f-18 which was originally designed for the f-15s role then later modified for the navy, so i think they're going to do the same thing with the f-35, fulfill all requirements by minimal airframe changes to fit the needs of the navy and marines; so really it's 3 different planes with interchangeable parts.

The F/A-18 began life as the XF-17 which lost the competition against the XF-16 (now F-16) for the LWF program in the 70's. The LWF program was not meant for the F-15's role b/c the LWF program was a complement to the F-15's design. The F-15A/C is a air superiority fighter.

 

[optoman]

Anyone watch this weeks Nova? Its about the JSF and competition between Boeing and Lockhead Martin. They let Nova follow the development of both prototypes and it was actually a cool show. You should definitly catch it.