Britain told "No Access" to F-35 Software codes

[Pacman1978]

Maybe a daft question but leaving a side all the problems, is the F35 actually any good? Is it the best plane available (for its role)

I do love watching and reading all things that fly but beyond knowing a 757 from a 747 my nouse is limited!

(a cheeky 2nd Q if I may. Say the development of the F-35 started in the late 90's, is then current tech used, ie screens, no led type tech was out then, do they continually have to update or are certain aspects left til later on?)

Thank you

[aeropilot]

Pacman1978 said:

Maybe a daft question but leaving a side all the problems, is the F35 actually any good?

Until they are well into service and all the hype (positive and negative) settles down, we don't really know.

[Yertis]

aeropilot said:

Pacman1978 said:

Maybe a daft question but leaving a side all the problems, is the F35 actually any good?

Until they are well into service and all the hype (positive and negative) settles down, we don't really know.

I remember when the Tornado had not quite entered service and exactly the same knocking news stories were floating around – too slow, not able to dogfight with and F16, too complex etc etc. But it seems to have done pretty well.

[Pacman1978]

Is it wrong to think that some official projections should be floating round?

[aeropilot]

Pacman1978 said:

Is it wrong to think that some official projections should be floating round?

Plenty official projections floating around saying it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Given the money that's being spunked on it, and is still going to have to be spunked on it to get it where it should have been by now, officially they are not going to say its a pile of poo are they?

[FourWheelDrift]

Pacman1978 said:

Maybe a daft question but leaving a side all the problems, is the F35 actually any good?

As short range, very expensive, limited weapons aircraft go it does it very well.

[Mave]

Yertis said:

aeropilot said:

Pacman1978 said:

Maybe a daft question but leaving a side all the problems, is the F35 actually any good?

Until they are well into service and all the hype (positive and negative) settles down, we don't really know.

I remember when the Tornado had not quite entered service and exactly the same knocking news stories were floating around – too slow, not able to dogfight with and F16, too complex etc etc. But it seems to have done pretty well.

Yep. Same concerns expressed on the tornado, Typhoon, f15, f18, f18e, b2... Just not quite so much in the social media domain.

[Dr Jekyll]

Mave said:

Yep. Same concerns expressed on the tornado, Typhoon, f15, f18, f18e, b2... Just not quite so much in the social media domain.

Not to mention Lightnings (used to catch fire) and Hunters (engine stopped when the guns fired).

[MBBlat]

Dr Jekyll said:

Not to mention Lightnings (used to catch fire) and Hunters (engine stopped when the guns fired).

And going back further - B29, nearly didn't make into service at all due to issues, primarily due to the engines, with the first batch to be built.
In fact is there any combat aircraft that hasn't gone through developement hell?

[V8 Fettler]

MBBlat said:

And going back further - B29, nearly didn't make into service at all due to issues, primarily due to the engines, with the first batch to be built.
In fact is there any combat aircraft that hasn't gone through developement hell?

Mosquito.

[Mave]

V8 Fettler said:

MBBlat said:

And going back further - B29, nearly didn't make into service at all due to issues, primarily due to the engines, with the first batch to be built.
In fact is there any combat aircraft that hasn't gone through developement hell?

Mosquito.

Didn't meet the spec due to lack of armament, and got cancelled to prioritise other programmes ;-)