via STRN.org
One of the many criticisms of the project is the spiralling unit cost of the planes and that no one will give a final exact price. Current estimates are around $220 Million (£143M) ‘fly-away’ cost for each plane. (Incidentally an F35 is also estimated to cost around $32,000 per hour to fly, although there are many variables that will affect this figure in UK service.) Just consider that figure £143 Million. Modern jets have always been expensive but this is a whole new paradigm. A single fighter/strike aircraft that costs as much as a small warship, a couple of hospitals… etc, A plane so precious and costly that it cannot be unduly risked? Although modern simulators will be able to prepare new pilots to a very high standard before they take the controls of a real plane, sooner or later they will have to fly real training sorties, and take the risks that accompany any flight in a fast jet. Even masters of aviation, the RAF have managed on average to lose at least one Tornado through accidents each year since it came into service.The article is in the best British tradition.
Long.
But its worth the read. Click here to go to his spot to check it out.
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ReplyDeletewhy you keep coming here is beyond me. I don't want to hear anything you have to say. oh and don't be confused. this isn't a democracy. its a blog.
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Deletegood read, now I don't know how the stealth capabilities stack up in comparison to each other but it seems possible that the best course now would be to kill the program and perhaps treat the handful of existing f-35 like the specialized f-117 for special strikes and use new builds of existing designs for more normal missions.
ReplyDeletethat sounds like a plan to me.
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DeleteSave the royal Navy? how does canceling its fleet air arm help the royal navy?
ReplyDeleteImagine the money you save by scrapping the F-35. Then imagine how much more you save by scrapping the carriers. Then imagine how much more you save by scrapping all the ships and submarines. Then finally imagine how much you save by scrapping all the royal navy museums and monuments.
Lots of schools, lots of hospitals.
no one is talking about canceling the fleet air arm.
Deletewhat is being talked about is using the available money to put together the most effective naval force the brits can afford. some say that a complete naval air wing is more than just fighters. it includes aerial refueling, airborne radar and other pieces.
its amazing how people take simple concepts and twist them into something unrecognizable.
Unless the RN pulls another 180 and goes with a EMALS they’re locked into the f35b.
ReplyDeletethe author of the article said that very thing. are you stating the obvious, simply repeating what was said or by chance did you NOT even take the time to read what he had to say.
DeleteWhy? The SuperHornet can use sky-jump...all the Hornet family(legacy and SH)are cleared for sky-jump...whats the deal ?
Delete"cleared for ski jump"
Delete??? NAVAIR has actually tested hornets on a ski jump and cleared them?
The British isles are currently without ANY sort of ASW/ISR aircraft since the retirement of the Nimrod years ago. Perhaps they should look into that... Or are subs no longer considered a viable threat?
ReplyDeletethats what the cats and traps crowd is saying. its kinda ironic too because the Brits were once world leaders in ASW warfare.
DeleteAnd they invented the Steam Cat, Angled flight deck, and Mirror landing aid...
DeleteI remember a cynical writer from the UK comparing the failure of the upgrades to the F-4 to make it more "British". To the US taking British tech and it works better then it ever did in the UK. The last UK carriers with catapults actually used US made cats.