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Second Lockheed Martin F-35B STOVL Fighter Achieves Successful 1st Flight


DButz65

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The second F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant takes off on its inaugural flight Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. F-35 development aircraft have completed 85 test flights. The supersonic F-35 is a 5th generation stealth fighter designed to replace the A-10, F-16, F/A-18 and the Harrier family of STOVL fighters. (PRNewsFoto/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Randy A. Crites)

http://www.somd.com/news/headlines/2009/9490.shtml

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Second Lockheed Martin F-35B STOVL Fighter Achieves Successful 1st Flight...just in time for Congress to axe it? I saw Barney Frank on TV last nite licking his chops at the idea of cutting back. Hopefully this here gets spared. I have to say I think it's a mistake to use the F-35 to replace the A-10. The Hog does its job so well, it seems a shame to toss it aside for a plane that will likely not be as capable in that niche mission. Of course, I only know what I've gleaned from TV, article, books, and such. There's probably a lot I'm not privy to that is going into that decision.

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This will be handy for finally achieving air superiority in Afghanistan.

Lol. Yeah, the Afghan Air Force consists of really big, mean-looking kites. Of course, they're limited to windy day ops only.

By the way, there was a great NOVA program a few years ago on the contest between Lockheed and Boeing to win the government contract to produce the next generation stealth fighter. It really got down to the nitty gritty about what this thing can do and how it can do it.

If you can find it, I recommend it.

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