F-35 not suppose to be as maneuverable as an F-16? That's not what they said originally!

via AOL.

The official version of those opinions was issued by the F-35’s Joint Program Office:
“The F-35’s technology is designed to engage, shoot, and kill its enemy from long distances, not necessarily in visual “dogfighting” situations. There have been numerous occasions where a four-ship of F-35s has engaged a four-ship of F-16s in simulated combat scenarios and the F-35s won each of those encounters because of its sensors, weapons, and stealth technology.”

Really?

Seriously?

That's not what Col. Gary Cooper II, F-35 combined test director said in 2009.  via Airman Magazine...

"We expect the F-35 to be operationally capable by 2013," said Col. Gary Cooper II, F-35 combined test director.

Developed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, the F-35 is single-engine fighter designed to be an affordable, state-of-the-art replacement for air-to-ground aircraft such as the Navy's F/A-18 Hornet, A-10 Thunderbolt II and the F-16C Fighting Falcon.

It has improved combat maneuverability over present fighters, it has increased range and the heads-up display is not viewed in the cockpit but inside the pilot's helmet visor.

And then this from the same article...

"Overall, I was impressed by how well the entire first flight came together," said Jon Beesley, Lockheed Martin's chief test pilot for the F-35. "The test team told me I taxied out to the end of the runway much faster than I did for any of the taxi tests. But I was ready to go and so was the airplane. And it was a thrill to fly."

Much of this is due to the fighter's advanced avionics, advances that give the F-35 greater agility and the ability to outperform opposing forces with unmatched aerial maneuvering.

What does this all mean?

It means the Program Office is once again "spinning" the facts.  Naw, lets be real....they're lying their asses off.

We were promised eye watering maneuverability and now they're trying to back off the promise with the help of friends in the media.

Consider this a service to those who want a clear eyed view of things....excuses work for 5 year olds, not multi-million billion, damn near a billion trillion dollar defense projects.

Sidenote:  2009 too far back for your taste?  Well Jokuvaan found this 2014 Breaking Defense quote from General Hostage...

The F-35, he says, has “at least” the maneuverability and thrust and weight of the F-16.

Read more of what the good General had to say here..

I hate to rant but can I ask everyone one simple question.  Leadership has been so wrong about so much lately why would you believe a single word they have to say?  The only really surprising thing is that they're able to do it (lie) with such conviction!