http://dailysignal.com/2016/08/05/9...acebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thf-fb
[FONT="]A total of 174 U.S. pilots currently have been trained to fly Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning II. The Heritage Foundation recently [/FONT]interviewed 31 [FONT="]of these former F-15C, F-15E, F-16C, and A-10 pilots. Each expressed a high degree of confidence in the F-35A, their new fifth-generation platform.[/FONT]
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[/FONT][FONT="]Even with developmental restrictions that limit the F-35A’s responsiveness and ability to maneuver, every U.S. fighter pilot interviewed would pick the F-35A over his former jet in a majority of air-to-air (dogfight) engagement scenarios they could face.
[/FONT][FONT="] A former F-16C instructor—and graduate of the Air Force Weapons Instructor Course of “Top Gun” fame—said the jet is constrained on how tight it can turn (G-limited) now. But even so, the rudder-assisted turns are incredible and deliver a constant 28 degrees of turn a second. When the Air Force removes the restrictions, this jet will be eye watering.
[/FONT][FONT="]Three former F-16CJ Wild Weasel instructor pilots, those tasked with attacking surface-to-air missile sites, said a single F-35A can find and attack SAM sites faster and more effectively than three F-16CJ fighters working together.
[/FONT][FONT="]A former A-10 instructor pilot said the situational awareness aids associated with the sensor suite of the F-35A allowed pilots to execute close air support missions as well or better than the A-10 in low-threat environments. The F-35A is the only multirole platform capable of conducting close air support in high-threat environments.[/FONT]
"Quick, the press is calling, we need 30 guys who are willing to say they love the F35 in some way!"
Sorry, that whole article reads like a nice propaganda piece. I also highly doubt that any A-10 pilot thinks an F35 is superior to his aircraft.
I'm not surprised an aircraft delivered in 2016 has better technology than one designed in the 70s and 80s. But specialization is always better than multirole. The Germans were real big on multirole aircraft in WWII. They were real good at getting shot down by air superiority fighters.
I don't know why we are insisting on constraining ourselves with one aircraft to fill all roles. We are shooting ourselves in the foot. We have multirole aircraft. It's called the C-130. Cargo, airborne, gunship, instrument plane, etc. that's where multirole should stay. In support.
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