Maiden Flight Of The RCAF's First CF-35A

[RichB]

The first CF-35A flew today from NAS JRB Ft. Worth. It is wearing the official RCAF markings. It will be known as the CF-35A Lightning II, serial numbers will be 35A***.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[paddy]

I cant make my mind up about the F35. apart from the radar signature the F15 is better in all respects so they are placing a huge amount of faith in stealth it seems. They USAF are flying the F35 and 15 out of lakenheath now and one looks like sleek sports car and the other a bit like a box van

 

[RichB]

Yeah it does look "funny" from some angles. The chunky body and stubby wings on the A and B led to unofficial nicknames "Fat Amy" and "Battle Penguin". In USAF circles, outside the Pentagon and Lockheed, the Lightning II name didn't catch on and the F-35 is now becoming known as the "Panther". Pilots are sporting "Panther Driver" patches on their flight suits.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[moon puppy]

I'm with you Paddy, there's something about the F15 coming off the drawing board instead of the computer screen. I have no doubt the F35 has air superiority covered over the F15. I haven't seen where the F35 has broken any speed to altitude records like the Streak Eagle did way back in 75.

Congrats to the RCAF! Just tell the neighbors that sound you here is the sound of Freedom!

 

[moon puppy]

Yeah it does look "funny" from some angles. The chunky body and stubby wings on the A and B led to unofficial nicknames "Fat Amy" and "Battle Penguin". In USAF circles, outside the Pentagon and Lockheed, the Lightning II name didn't catch on and the F-35 is now becoming known as the "Panther". Pilots are sporting "Panther Driver" patches on their flight suits.

Cheers,
RichB

I'm sure the USAF is just tickled their aircraft nickname is a Navy legacy. As much as I like the idea of honoring the old warbirds maybe new names would be better. I mean was there a Camel II?

 

[RichB]

They could have picked "Comic", the RFC nickname for nightfighter modified Camels and 1 1/2 Strutters.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[paddy]

Thew UK is lumbered with F35B models to work with our completely useless carriers. The B model has less range , less payload in fact its a serious compromise on the A model. We made a massive mistake in ordering 2 carriers when the world was in a different time. We made an even bigger mistake in cost cutting and not fitting catapults. We will never have the ships to defend these carriers so rely on Nato navy's to form a battle group and those other navy's including Canada cant use the carriers as they dont have f35B's.....................not that it really matters as the carriers are continually in for major repairs as thje drive shafts are crap

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Thew UK is lumbered with F35B models to work with our completely useless carriers. The B model has less range , less payload in fact its a serious compromise on the A model. We made a massive mistake in ordering 2 carriers when the world was in a different time. We made an even bigger mistake in cost cutting and not fitting catapults. We will never have the ships to defend these carriers so rely on Nato navy's to form a battle group and those other navy's including Canada cant use the carriers as they dont have f35B's.....................not that it really matters as the carriers are continually in for major repairs as thje drive shafts are crap

Didn't realize that Paddy. I remember the Falkland war, but not much about it either except it seemed you guys trounced the Argentines.

 

[paddy]

The carriers are completely dependent on F35B models and we dont have enough to equip both carriers and the waiting list for delivery from Lockheed is now into the 2030's . The advantage of an f35 is its autonomous Where as a F15 cant go in before the electronic warfare aircraft have cleared the Ground to air threat. Canada ordered 65 F35 in 2010 and will not actually receive one till 2028. I think we have 48 but we lost one that took off with its engine cover still on. A carrier takes a compliment of 40, that would leave us with 7 on shore and lets face it a dozen of those in use would be in maintenance at any one time.m Others would be scavenged for spares. That leaves at best both carriers carrying 15 aircraft each and nothing at home.
As for the Falklands. Times change, in 1982 all the islands had was a small civil airport at port Stanley. Now we have RAF Mount pleasant , a new purpose built RAF base, permanent Typhoon fighters stationed there and air defense systems in place . Trump has sold Argentina some F16 but without air to air refueling they wouldn't be a threat to the Falklands or a Typhoon really come to that. In 1982 we didn't have the capacity to fly troops 8000 miles to the Falklands but now we have voyager and Atlas aircraft that can fly all the way via the ascension islands so we can have more than the 2000 already based there in a day or so. Last time it took 4 weeks by ship

 

[moon puppy]

Sorry but I have to do this...anytime the Falklands is mentioned this comes to mind.

 

[paddy]

If you played that over here you would be lynched.. its a hugely emotive subject, 1000 people died including 250 British forces. We lost 2 Frigates, 2 destroyers a landing ship and a landing craft to a tin pot dictator but thats a price worth paying to defend sovereignty and ensure the democratic right of citizens.
Just saying

 

[Sharkmouth]

In 1982 we didn't have the capacity to fly troops 8000 miles to the Falklands but now we have voyager and Atlas aircraft that can fly all the way via the ascension islands so we can have more than the 2000 already based there in a day or so. Last time it took 4 weeks by ship

I recall the support given behind the scenes to both parties.

Hey, I sound like that sometimes!

thats a price worth paying to defend sovereignty and ensure the democratic right of citizens.

Always will be!

 

[paddy]

"I recall the support given behind the scenes to both parties."

The US helped us out with AIM Sidewinders for the harriers ..................and France supplied Argentina with Exocet anti ship missiles that sank 4 of our ships.