New F-35 pics.

[sferrin]

New F-35 pics.

And for the whol crap load:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=15965&rsbci=11173&fti=0&ti=0&sc=400

(200 Mb of pics down towards the bottom)

[Name Taken]

Why are the flags painted backwards?

[OMON]

Why are the flags painted backwards?

how u mean?

[Silver Cup]

Nice looking aircraft.

[Aussie E]

The flags are always shown facing the wind/front. How the flag would look going into the wind.

[Jocker_89]

how u mean?

He means this
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/97/ussv7.png

and I think that means:
The stars always lead beacouse this is a tradition
PS: Sorry for my english :)

BTW: Beautiful plane

[Jk=SWE=]

NIce virds, but i think some details look like it´s photoshoped? Like the flags for example?? Mayby it´s just me! :)

[Anthony91]

NIce virds, but i think some details look like it´s photoshoped? Like the flags for example?? Mayby it´s just me! :)

No there not photoshopped on there. And boy is the F-35 Lightning II a beautiful piece of machinery. Hopefully someday i'll be flying one of them. :D

[Berkut]

OMG what a beauty! and this is a Sukhoi/Mig fan speaking...
Good thing Canada is in the Project, it's about time they replace those Cf-18s.

[3rdMillhouse]

Why are the flags painted backwards?

The picture may have been inverted using an image edition software such as GIMP, Photoshop, hell, even paintbrush.


BTW, sweet looking aircraft.

PS: it looks like those flags were "photochopped".

PS2: Does the Lightning II have TVC (Thrust Vectoring Control)?

[sferrin]

The picture may have been inverted using an image edition software such as GIMP, Photoshop, hell, even paintbrush.


BTW, sweet looking aircraft.

PS: it looks like those flags were "photochopped".

PS2: Does the Lightning II have TVC (Thrust Vectoring Control)?


Okay, you didn't even notice the rest of the text on the aircraft is pointed the correct way and yet you're prepared to make a photoshop call on the FLAGS? ;)

[Gluten]

hehe interesting conversation u guys have here, and its not photoshopped. The airplane looks great btw ;)

[CG51]

Why are the flags painted backwards?

Click here for answer. (http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/faqs/q30.htm)

Beautiful plane! Thanks for posting :D

[MPNFL]

Why are the flags painted backwards?


probably the same reason the flag patch on a soldier's shoulder is backwards: when put on a guide-on (i think that's how you spell it?) and marched forward the flag waves in a backwards direction.

for example:

http://www.ibtstw.org/images/localphotos/DSCN0980.jpg

if the soldier re-treats the flag waves in the "normal" direction, and a soldier never re-treats p-)

[Anthony91]

Good pic MPNFL. :D

[LKSXXX]

Is this canopy of the type that have gold mixed in to it to protect the pilot against radiation from a nuclear blast?

LKS.

[3rdMillhouse]

Okay, you didn't even notice the rest of the text on the aircraft is pointed the correct way and yet you're prepared to make a photoshop call on the FLAGS? ;)

Yeah, so what?

[AFACadet]

Very nice pictures, thanks.

Interesting...

No HUD and no HMD. I wonder when the HMD is going to be up and working.

[socom6]

Ahhh, the little brother of the F22 is coming along nicely to replace the deadly duet of the F15 and F16, my how time fly.

[sferrin]

Is this canopy of the type that have gold mixed in to it to protect the pilot against radiation from a nuclear blast?

LKS.

No. The oxide coating is to present a continuous surface to any radars that might be looking. Without it they'd see inside the cockpit and get a relatively huge return off of things like the seat and cockpit walls.

[sferrin]

Yeah, so what?

You don't see the irony in that?

[silveykyle]

she sure is purty

[Indianer]

But can it fly to Japan? That's my big question...

[sferrin]

But can it fly to Japan? That's my big question...

Wow that was funny. You're a clever one aren't you? :roll:

[AFACadet]

No. The oxide coating is to present a continuous surface to any radars that might be looking. Without it they'd see inside the cockpit and get a relatively huge return off of things like the seat and cockpit walls.


and the pilot and his/her helmet

[ZoneOne]

Any fly boys out there care to explain the differences between the F-22 and F-35?

To someone who isn't educated in aviation, they look pretty much the same. (Other then the single engine, dual engine)

The F35b is the only one that has VTOL capabilities correct?

[sferrin]

and the pilot and his/her helmet

Unless the helmet is metal and the pilot has a serious grill up front they're probably radar transparent ;)

[sferrin]

Any fly boys out there care to explain the differences between the F-22 and F-35?

To someone who isn't educated in aviation, they look pretty much the same.

The F-22 is much bigger, has twin engines, and much higher performance. It also is more stealthy. Pretty much no expense was spared in it's creation. The F-22 is the F-15 replacement and the F-35 is the F-16 replacement.

[ZoneOne]

The F-22 is much bigger, has twin engines, and much higher performance. It also is more stealthy. Pretty much no expense was spared in it's creation. The F-22 is the F-15 replacement and the F-35 is the F-16 replacement.

So the F-18 will still be in the air for years to come?
edit - according to wikipedia the F-35c is also replacing the f-18

Am I correct when I say that the f-35 is the bomber while the f-22 is the fighter?

[AFACadet]

Unless the helmet is metal and the pilot has a serious grill up front they're probably radar transparent ;)

You'd be surprised then. The pilot/helmet combo is one of the greatest radar reflectors of a bubble canopy aircraft. At least that's what lots 'o military pilots have told me. Things don't have to be metal to reflect radar.

[AFACadet]

So the F-18 will still be in the air for years to come?
edit - according to wikipedia the F-35c is also replacing the f-18

Am I correct when I say that the f-35 is the bomber while the f-22 is the fighter?


The F-35 is replacing F/A-18Cs. The F/A-18E/F/Gs will stay in service for a long time.

The F-35 is mostly ground attack with some air-to-air, while the -22 is mostly air-to-air but does have good air-to-ground in many instances plus excellent ISR to help the AWACS and RIVET JOINTs.

[Yellowbelly]

Does anyone think this plane can replace all the ones as planned? I mean we really don't have any idea of its performance compared to other fighters. I thought all planes after the f22 were supposed to have thrust vectoring but it doesn't and we really have no idea on maneuverability and how well it stacks up against other planes.

[AFACadet]

Yes, its going to do very well. I've been in on a number of F-35 capability briefs, and seen the F-35 sim in action.

It will easily take over all of the aircraft it is intended to replace (yes, even many of the A-10s missions). There are a few A-10 missions the JSF won't do very well (I'm thinking CSAR, helicopter escort, and a handful of danger close situations), and that's why I think the AF is planning on keeping some A-10s around longer and upgrading them with new avionics. The Predator B may actually be a better option for those missions than the JSF OR the A-10. As is stands, the Predator A has better PK, time-on-station, response time, and 0 frendly fire in its CAS missions in Iraq and Afghanistan over the A-10. The Pred B adds more weapons, more sensors, more fuel, and faster cruise speed over the Pred A.

Thrust vectoring isn't the end-all-be-all either. In most cases, stealth and avionics are going to be vastly more important, and the JSF is set in those two areas. Right now, the JSF has F-16 and F/A-18 level maneuverability.

[sferrin]

You'd be surprised then. The pilot/helmet combo is one of the greatest radar reflectors of a bubble canopy aircraft. At least that's what lots 'o military pilots have told me. Things don't have to be metal to reflect radar.

No but they do need to be conductors. The helmets have wires in them and metal hardware. Anyway I'll concede the point.

[IDF-Godzilla]

Great pictures!
I see the F-35 more as the "new F-16" and the F-22 as the "new F-15".

[AlterMega]

You'd be surprised then. The pilot/helmet combo is one of the greatest radar reflectors of a bubble canopy aircraft. At least that's what lots 'o military pilots have told me. Things don't have to be metal to reflect radar.

If thats true..should you really be telling people that?Youd think they would keep some information classified

[Midav]

If thats true..should you really be telling people that?Youd think they would keep some information classified

It's not a secret. Hence why purpose built stealth unmanned aircraft have a smaller radar signature.

[AFACadet]

If thats true..should you really be telling people that?Youd think they would keep some information classified

Not really, its physics and known pretty much everywhere you go.


The mere reflection of the pilot's helmet would outshine the rest of the plane put together, so the canopy was also given a transparent coating to render it impenetrable to radar.

http://www.luminoxshop.com/f1tealsec.html


On modern stealth aircraft, the cockpit in particular is still a problem;
most canopy materials are almost as transparent to radio waves as they are
to visible light, and the complex shape of the interior of the cockpit (not
to mention the pilot, especially their helmet) is an excellent radar
reflector. The materials used for canopy coatings are among the most
secret parts of stealth designs (see C.10).

http://www.cs.uu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/mil-aviation-faq/part3.html

[USNF35]

The HMD is already up and running. My uncle is a Senior Chief in the USN and his squadron has one of two F/A-18s in the USN that has the capability of using the HMD and firing the AIM-9X. With the HMD the pilot can look over his/her shoulder, get an infra red lock on to an enemy aircraft and launch an AIM-9X and it will track and destroy the target. Quite awesome stuff.

[Victor_S.]

yea really cool aircraft. Got to see a simulator for it. The hud is projected on the pilots visor and there are cameras around the plane so the pilot can look down and esentially look through the plane. also there are no switches or buttons only touch screen.

[Yaar]

Why are the flags painted backwards?

Because of the same reason as ambulances have their forward text mirrored; so you can easily read the text in your rear-view mirror. ;)

(http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/coreimages/digital+art/23646_1175_by_alexfurr.jpg)

[3rdMillhouse]

You don't see the irony in that?

Nope. I don't.

[IsraDani]

little ot
How the USAF intends to replace all its F-15 in the future? I know they ordered not a lot of F-22 due to its high cost.

[Ratamacue]

little ot
How the USAF intends to replace all its F-15 in the future? I know they ordered not a lot of F-22 due to its high cost.The 183 F-22s they've ordered so far won't be able to completely replace the F-15, but it's almost certain that plenty more will be ordered in the future, especially as the cost begins to lower.

[artinist]

seems like the more time passes, the more its starting to look more like the f22 and less like the prototype f-35

awsome

[w1ldcard]

NIce virds, but i think some details look like it´s photoshoped? Like the flags for example?? Mayby it´s just me! :)

Not photoshoped. :-D

I just viewed the hi-res image.

The flags/images on the aircraft are just merely enhanced its clarity (possibly the suns rays)

[TheArmenian]

What a shame.

During the seventies the USA designed and produced the F-14, F-15, F-16, F-18 and A-10. In addition they used the Harrier jumpjet.

Now in the 21st century, there will be only the F-22 and F-35 to replace all of the above.

[w1ldcard]

What a shame.

During the seventies the USA designed and produced the F-14, F-15, F-16, F-18 and A-10. In addition they used the Harrier jumpjet.

Now in the 21st century, there will be only the F-22 and F-35 to replace all of the above.

....well its a practical move to have only 2 aircraft though.

[TheArmenian]

^^ Yes of course, financialy it makes more sense. And if the F-22s were not so expensive and unaffordable for most airforces, there would not have been an F-35 program...

However if something does not work as advertized in one of these uberfighters.... You don't want to have all your eggs in one basket:-(

I would have prefered to see at least 3 different platforms to replace all the previous warplanes

[Commander Shepard]

You don't want to have all your eggs in one basket:-(


Ahem, last time I checked there were two of them. Where'd you get the "one basket" thing from?

[w1ldcard]

Because of the same reason as ambulances have their forward text mirrored; so you can easily read the text in your rear-view mirror. ;)

(http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/coreimages/digital+art/23646_1175_by_alexfurr.jpg)

?????

r u serious on this?

[Kilgor]

^^ Yes of course, financialy it makes more sense. And if the F-22s were not so expensive and unaffordable for most airforces, there would not have been an F-35 program...

However if something does not work as advertized in one of these uberfighters.... You don't want to have all your eggs in one basket:-(

I would have prefered to see at least 3 different platforms to replace all the previous warplanes

You can still "buy" updated F15s, F18's, F16s, and those airframes will continue to be upgraded with the latest weapons and avionics for years to come. This is of course exactly what Russia does too.

[Anthony91]

^^ Yes of course, financialy it makes more sense. And if the F-22s were not so expensive and unaffordable for most airforces, there would not have been an F-35 program...

There probably still would be a F-35, just only maybe for the US Marines, and the Royal Navy.

[Ratamacue]

There probably still would be a F-35, just only maybe for the US Marines, and the Royal Navy.No, the F-35 would still be there to replace the F-16 for the USAF and the F/A-18 for the USN.