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Ford_Prefect

(8,667 posts)

16. The old joke goes that a Cub Scout with a sling shot could knock one down.

Tue Jun 28, 2016, 01:41 PM

Jun 2016

The truth is disturbingly close to that. I suspect an A-4 or an F-5 with a good pilot could do it, certainly any of the more recent MiG or Sukhoi offerings can, to say nothing of Chinese eqivalents.

I would not want to be in one opposite an F-4 or an A-10 on a rainy day.

Their entire superiority rests on stand-off weapons it cannot yet control sufficiently or reliably. Direct confrontation is certainly out of the question since the plane cannot get out of its own way. If it has to deal with more than 2 adversaries at the same time it is gonna be toast.

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F-15E Strike Eagles unable to shoot down the F-35s in 8 dogfights during simulated deployment [View all] Just reading posts Jun 2016 OP

Of course in simulations is the only way the F-35 performs to specs. hobbit709 Jun 2016 #1

Well, it's not as if it's seen any action yet, so how could it be otherwise? Just reading posts Jun 2016 #2

It doesn't even fly according to specs. hobbit709 Jun 2016 #3

Exactly. nt. Else You Are Mad Jun 2016 #5

Nailed it. brush Jun 2016 #6

I bet the MIC lobbyists... Else You Are Mad Jun 2016 #7

$100 million per plane, roughly. Just reading posts Jun 2016 #10

Most of those in the military... Else You Are Mad Jun 2016 #4

Well, as per Wikipedia it goes into full productin in a couple of years. Just reading posts Jun 2016 #8

Well, yes, but... Else You Are Mad Jun 2016 #11

Not saying that deployment equals a good weapons platform, just pointing out that we appear to be Just reading posts Jun 2016 #13

Ahh ok. Else You Are Mad Jun 2016 #14

Just curious... did you fly fighters, Close Air Support, or some other military aircraft? cherokeeprogressive Jun 2016 #15

As if! Ford_Prefect Jun 2016 #9

Bingo. Else You Are Mad Jun 2016 #12

The old joke goes that a Cub Scout with a sling shot could knock one down. Ford_Prefect Jun 2016 #16

why, exactly, did they 'retire' the warthog? Gabi Hayes Jun 2016 #18

It's the old story that the Air Force feels it shouldn't be in the close ground support role. Ford_Prefect Jun 2016 #19

None of the F35s were shot down. They asphyxiated their pilots and crashed before it could happen. Oneironaut Jun 2016 #17