First F-35 flight may be Monday

[davepc]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-12-06T101614Z_01_N05317546_RTRUKOC_0_US-AERO-ARMS-SUMMIT-LOCKHEED-FLIGHT.xml&WTmodLoc=USNewsHome_C2_domesticNews-3

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the costliest weapons procurement project ever, is set to make its maiden test flight next week, a U.S. general running the project said on Tuesday.

"I am optimistic that we will see the airplane fly as early as Monday" at Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Fort Worth, Texas, test site, Marine Brig. Gen. David Heinz, the Pentagon program office's deputy director, told the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit in Washington, D.C.

At a projected $276.5 billion, the planned family of radar-evading warplanes represents the Pentagon's priciest planned purchase -- more than 2,400 aircraft by 2027 for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

Three single-engine F-35 models are to replace aging F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and a range of other fighter and strike aircraft for the United States and its friends over the next 30 years.

The supersonic, multirole aircraft's development has been co-financed by eight international partners -- Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.

...

[Botany]

1. What about spending that money on health care and education

$ 921.67 for every man women in child in America.

And these will help stop I.E.D.s, terrorism, and secure the ports how?

[bahrbearian]

2. Just in time to bomb Iran.

[davepc]

13. If previous aircraft development schedules are any indication, it wont be operational for 5+ years

or more at this rate.

[givemebackmycountry]

3. That's TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX POINT FIVE BILLION FREAKING DOLLARS

My God - and to think I'm called a communist because I want free education and health care for life for every U.S. citizen.

This country, we are truly through the looking glass now.

[Gregorian]

4. It's a sick society that has money for this, but not for health purposes.

That is BIG money. It makes no sense at all to deny the citizens of this country health care, while building killing machines. Furthermore, I strongly believe that a lot of crime is due to health issues. Things like sleep apnea that we hardly even pay attention to, cause massive amounts of illness.
Look at how much money and energy go into the military. Then think of the country we WOULD have if we put that same energy and cash into education and health care.


Check out this website if you want to see it in action. How it's built and tested. You'll see just how much of our energy goes into THIS.

http://www.jsf.mil/gallery/gal_video.htm#f35manf

[Downtown Hound]

5. Thank God!

This is so gonna stop them terrorists with their box cutters, I can hear 'em cryin' already.

Do I really need to add the sarcasm logo to that?

[jody]

6. As long as the U.S. needs the military, I want every soldier, sailor, marine, and airman given

equipment that lets them fight, win, and survive.

To do less than that is a betrayal of those men and woman who dedicate their lives to defending this nation so people of all persuasions can vent their anger against real and imagined wrongs, here on DU and other forums.

HONOR THE WARRIOR, NOT THE WAR

[catnhatnh]

9. 'Kay,...

as soon as the "insurgents" put out a purchase order for $150 billion or so for these-then I'm willing to outspend them. (See:Strawman Arguements)

[jody]

11. Who said anything about insurgents? Do you think that's why our USAF

needs the F-35?

Please google "National Intelligence Estimate" and study the pros and cons of that "strategic estimate of the capabilities, vulnerabilities, and probable courses of action of foreign nations produced at the national level as a composite of the views of the intelligence community."

I'm betting you will not do that. :shrug:

[Lasthorseman]

7. Note though

how we can't afford anymore to go it alone. It's the "international" space station. And it's an "international" effort to develop warplanes.
www.spp.gov

[Gregorian]

8. Want to see the business end of this thing?

Windows Media player file.

http://www.jsf.mil/video/misc/gun_high.wmv


And for all of those who think we really need this stuff, just remember it's never the people who want war. It's their leaders. And it's always the civilians who die in the greatest numbers. So view this with that in mind.

Edit- I just want to say that this plane is absolutely awesome! This thing can land vertically. I've flown planes. I even watched the development of this prototype plane back when I lived near Moffett Field. But there is still no excuse for this kind of waste on OUR money when we don't have the things we really need. War is obsolete.

[jody]

10. The video at your link does not show the true capability of the F-35. It's much, much

more than a simple gatling gun.

What the link shows is nothing more than an electrically driven 19th century machine gun.

[Gregorian]

12. I know.

That's just a big minigun.


Lots of fun unless you are on the wrong end.