Woops! Lockheed forgot the Tailhook on the F-35C

[Aesthetica]

Originally Posted by Catfish

I take it the F-35"B" does not need a hook:

Yeah F-35-A is the standard land based version, the B is the STOVL version with a back end designed by BAE, lower payload, shorter range, but it can take off from old RN style ski-ramp short carriers, and land vertically on same, makes it ideal for the Gator Navy, like a stealthed 5th generation super Harrier (that was the theory behind us ordering 80 of them). The C is the CATOBAR version for use on the US's super carriers, it has a beefier airframe, and larger wing area, to withstand the shock of a tailhook arrested landing, and lower it's stall speeds etc.

Problems however, reports about cracks in the airframe's structural components, not enough to ground it, but enough to shorten the life span of each craft, and push up maintenance costs, the tail hook scandal, etc.

Worst thing about the whole concept... As was mentioned in an earlier post, you can only upgrade an airframe so much before it becomes obsolete, 20-30 yrs tops, but the F-35 program is claimed to have a 50 yr upgradability program, despite the fact that technological progress is accelerating.

They are justifying the massive cost of this program by claiming that they will still be in service (albeit later varients, F-35-M's etc.) in 2070!

It's become less about making something that works right, and more about corporate fingers in the cash pie. They even talked about changing the engines used, at a very late date, that was canceled saving $3 billion, but they are not done messing yet it seems. I get a feeling that either these things will arrive in 2020 with a whole host of defects, or they will be put back to 2025-2030.

Meanwhile it's struggle on with desperate late model rebuilds of existing airframes like the F-15, 16 and 18.

I'm dreading the howls of laughter from "Crab Air" when they finally see what WAFU are getting for their new flattops.

SNAFU...