F-35 News....I get the impression the ski jump was a useless add on...

Major Hat Tip to Think Defence...



Sorry F-35 fans.  I look at the above video and all I can think is that the ski jump requirement is useless.

Quite honestly its just another indication of a program filled with bloat and unneeded add ons that increased cost.

I'm not quite there but I'm getting close.  Joint aircraft programs when there are differing requirements are nothing but money pits.  Better a well defined single service program and AFTER work is completed, do modifications for other services to use it.  A good example?  The US Army's utility helicopter replacement for the Huey...the UH-60.

Make a world beating product and then others will glob on to it.  That's the way to do things.