Interview with a F-35B Pilot

swiss · by **swiss** » 15 Jan 2019, 21:56

Interesting Interview with a British F-35B Pilot.

https://hushkit.net/2019/01/15/intervie ... r-paratus/

ricnunes · by **ricnunes** » 15 Jan 2019, 22:22

Thanks swiss :thumb:

I specially enjoyed the following comment (from the F-35B pilot):

The Block 3F capability is highly combat capable, despite what you may wish to believe is written by a number of prominent bloggers.

hornetfinn · by **hornetfinn** » 16 Jan 2019, 12:16

Thank you swiss. Excellent interview, very interesting!

mixelflick · by **mixelflick** » 16 Jan 2019, 15:58

Ah, you beat me to it! I like Hushkit, although some of their offerings are really off the wall. However, their last few pilot interviews (Mig-25, F-35) have been exceptional.

One thing that really came across from that F-35 pilot was how well rounded the aircraft is. He's clearly indicating that in all environments (air to ground, air to air etc) the F-35 is going to dominate. And it's also clear they've still got a lot of combat capability still to exploit (in the software upgrades). The one thing I can't figure out is the UK's reluctance to purchase some gun pods. It can't be that expensive, can it?

Having the gun is a controversial topic, I know. But surely just like their Harriers in the Falklands, their F-35's will be tasked with CAS/air interdiction and I'd imagine it'd be useful there. I hope they reconsider. Otherwise, adding F-35's to her majesty's two brand spanking new aircraft carriers is a true game changer. God help whoever's on the receiving end of that carrier strike group, and it's good to know they'll be there for us if we need them...

ricnunes · by **ricnunes** » 16 Jan 2019, 20:00

mixelflick wrote:The one thing I can't figure out is the UK's reluctance to purchase some gun pods. It can't be that expensive, can it?

I believe that I can actually figure that part out although I don't necessary agree with it.
IMO, this could be related to the fact that the RAF (or UK's MOD, can't remember for sure) seems to consider and believe that the gun is an obsolete or at least an "unnecessary" weapon in the future or in future conflicts.
I remember that at one point the Brits wanted to have their Typhoons without any gun and that the only reason why this decision was reverted and thus it was decided to retain the gun (on the Typhoons) was because it would actually be more expensive to remove the guns from their existing Typhoon aircraft plus developing a proper ballast system to counter the loss/removal of the gun and ammo feed system and of course building this ballast system for either existing or new built Typhoons.

Since this sort of problem doesn't affect the F-35B (since the gun is external) I believe this could be the reason why no gun pods are being procured for the UK F-35B's.
Moreover, I believe that if the UK decides to procure F-35A's then I sure that they will come with the gun but for the same reason (posted above) that their Typhoon fleet still has a gun.

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 17 Jan 2019, 01:24

And yet, any “kills” of an F-22 by the vaunted Typhie.... were with the gun, n’est pas?

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 17 Jan 2019, 01:39

There is also potential for UK to procure the GAU-22/A Gun Pod if needs be and the USMC have already employed it.

Hmmm... does this mean the guys flying off the Essex got some gun runs in the A-Stan, recently?

quicksilver · by **quicksilver** » 17 Jan 2019, 02:20

steve2267 wrote:
There is also potential for UK to procure the GAU-22/A Gun Pod if needs be and the USMC have already employed it.

Hmmm... does this mean the guys flying off the Essex got some gun runs in the A-Stan, recently?

Months ago. Where have you been?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 17 Jan 2019, 03:33

Bombs & Bullets: VMFA-211 F-35Bs from USS ESSEX 1st Strike 27 Sep 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2o6xl4nQy8

mixelflick · by **mixelflick** » 17 Jan 2019, 13:44

Interesting tidbit...

I may have missed it (but I don't think so, read it twice this morning), but part of the original interview has been removed. It was the part where he asked the F-35B pilot to grade it given certain metrics. I don't recall all of them, but one was sustained turn (he gave it a C), and instantaneous turn (A or A plus).

Why would they remove something like that?

sferrin · by **sferrin** » 17 Jan 2019, 13:52

mixelflick wrote:Interesting tidbit...

I may have missed it (but I don't think so, read it twice this morning), but part of the original interview has been removed. It was the part where he asked the F-35B pilot to grade it given certain metrics. I don't recall all of them, but one was sustained turn (he gave it a C), and instantaneous turn (A or A plus).

Why would they remove something like that?

Well, it's not very useful, and it's just fuel for the haters to distort. Is it a "C" compared to the Harrier (the aircraft it's replacing) or a "C" compared to an F-16 (an aircraft it's NOT replacing)?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 17 Jan 2019, 14:01

mixelflick wrote:Interesting tidbit... I may have missed it (but I don't think so, read it twice this morning), but part of the original interview has been removed. It was the part where he asked the F-35B pilot to grade it given certain metrics. I don't recall all of them, but one was sustained turn (he gave it a C), and instantaneous turn (A or A plus). Why would they remove something like that?

…"How would you rate the aircraft for the following- [complete interview 4 page PDF attached below]
Acceleration 8/10 – Impressive to say the least and, being such a slick design, the aircraft can be a challenge to slow down at times.
Climb rate 7/10 – Again, very good. Gets to height very quickly.
Performance at high AoA 10/10 – Fantastic nose authority.
Sustained turns 7/10 Very good, even though the overall design isn’t optimised for pure ‘dogfighting’ like the F-16.
Instantaneous turns 9/10 Impressive!..." https://hushkit.net/2019/01/15/intervie ... r-paratus/

hornetfinn · by **hornetfinn** » 17 Jan 2019, 14:06

I wonder what he would rate as 10/10 for acceleration, climb rate and sustained turns?

lbk000 · by **lbk000** » 17 Jan 2019, 19:02

hornetfinn wrote:I wonder what he would rate as 10/10 for acceleration, climb rate and sustained turns?

EE Lightning, Harrier, Spitfire

marsavian · by **marsavian** » 17 Jan 2019, 19:21

hornetfinn wrote:I wonder what he would rate as 10/10 for acceleration, climb rate and sustained turns?

Being an RAF pilot probably Typhoon. The F-35A would be better on all three metrics than F-35B and the F-35C would beat the other two models on sustained turns. It's obvious that primarily the F-35 is a fast changer of direction rather than a plane that's going to grind you down with high energy sustained turns. It still can do sub 20s full circles but that is not what will really distinguish it from others in ACM ; stop, point, zig, zag and zoom will be its strengths. It has enough good maneuvering/energy qualities for an F-35 not to fear anyone up close especially the A and C models.