F-35 begins flight tests with external underwing loads
 

F-35 Begins Flight Tests Equipped With External Missiles | Defense News | defensenews.com

BOOOOOOOO! BOOOOOOOO!

http://cmsimg.defensenews.com/apps/p...ernal-Missiles
http://cmsimg.defensenews.com/apps/p...ernal-Missiles

The Artwork of the F-35 with wingtip launch rails looks cool. That...not so much. IMHO USMC wont care as long as it gets a supersonic fighter to replace the AV-8B+ Harrier II's

I was also intrigued that the F-35 doers not use the F-22 style pylons. F-22 uses two piece pylon so the sides are angled down 45deg.

http://forums.filefront.com/picture....pictureid=9556

Re: F-35 begins flight tests with external underwing loads
 

So they spend incredible amounts of money to develop a stealth multi-role fighter and then slap on a bunch of cheap pods which screw the radar profile up.

But I guess it makes sense as these planes will probably be used quite a bit for bombing nations without significant air defenses anyway. You still get the option to go in stealthy for the first few missions where you have to destroy radars and such and then you can stick all sorts of stuff on your stealth fighters to improve their ground support capabilities once the air is clear.

Re: F-35 begins flight tests with external underwing loads
 

Call me crazy but you woulda thunk that since Lockheed makes the F-22 AND the F-35 they maybe would have standardized the pylons and stealth drop tanks so you can install on F-22 OR F-35.

Re: F-35 begins flight tests with external underwing loads
 

Hell, they dont even have standardized PAINT. Why would they waste the opportunity to shake Uncle Sugar down for a little more money with standardized pylons?:lulz:

Re: F-35 begins flight tests with external underwing loads
 

Wait, are they completely new pylons for the F-35, or do they at least have parts commonality with the F-16/F-15/A-10/ANYTHING? I could understand someone signing off on something that's backwards-compatible. I might have an aneurysm if that's not the case.

Re: F-35 begins flight tests with external underwing loads
 

Parts commonality? In OUR Air Force? surely you jest.

Re: F-35 begins flight tests with external underwing loads
 

A guy can dream, can't he?