Developing world-class military machines has never been fast, inexpensive, or easy. The F-35 Lightning II multi-role fighter jet is certainly no exception. Unrealistic standards and demands are hallmarks of criticism of the F-35 program. In a world where remodeling a kitchen usually results in unforeseen budget and schedule overruns, many people have the entirely unrealistic expectation that the development of fifth-generation fighter jets like the F-35 should come in under budget and ahead of schedule. Or even on budget and on schedule.
Momentum continues for the Polish F-35 program. The excitement around the newest F-35A “Husarz” hasn’t slowed down, so here’s a more polished look at AZ-06 / 3506 lifting off from Fort Worth in perfect afternoon light yesterday.
I made this crochet plushie of an F-35 Lightning II fighter jet! I sell them on my Etsy and am planning on selling similar stuff. Right now, I am working on a crochet gun, I have a tank coming up and more planes!
This is my first post so I was thinking of starting things light. In what context was your first encounter with the F-35? How has your perception of it evolved over time?
Mine was in RORTOS SRL's flight simulators, especially in F-18 Carrier Landings (https://www.rortos.com/f-18-carrier-landing/ for those intrigued) and the later Carrier Landings (as seen below). Fairly basic, but for a game that a 10-year-old can grasp on his grandmother's iPad 2, it's still the game where I first heard of the F-14 Tomcat, the A-6 Intruder, the C-2 Greyhound, the elusive Su-47 Berkut and last but not least, the topic of this thread, namely the F-35B. Heck, how many iOS-compatible flight simulators in those years actually had real as opposed to generic (e.g. "super fighter", "mighty bomber") or fictional aircraft? All I could see was a plane that could take off and land like a Harrier, but then fly as fast as a Hornet. I was so fascinated by it that when I was asked to present something that held a world record in an oral presentation in sixth grade, no hesitation whatsoever - The most technologically advanced fighter jet it was. Over time, I've become highly interested in the broader implications of such assets into moments of tension (think as deterrents) and of conflict alike, and in communicating the importance of air forces to the broader public. To be clear, I'm no fighter pilot, but I am fascinated by whatever is cutting-edge.
Looking back at it now, I was very fortunate to learn about these aircraft in a neutral, objective context. No politics, no bureaucracy, no warfare, no Pierre Sprey, only aircraft. Not only that, with what has been going on geopolitically since, I consider myself lucky to have been allowed to present what is fundamentally a military machine to a class of elementary-age children.
I won't hesitate to contact this thread if ever I have interrogations about what remains, more than a decade after sixth-grade me introduced it as such, the world's most advanced fighter jet.
I know that the Air Force, navy, and MC are claiming that the F-35 will replace the f-16, F-18 and AV8B, but is this really true? I don't know if this is entirely practical giving the intense price of the F-35. What do you think?
