"F-35" Topic

YouTube link

We have an entire wing of F-35s at the base near my house. They are MUCH louder than the F-16s that were stationed there previously.

I was watching the video in the following link the other day. It shows F35Bs landing on the HMS Queen Elizabeth. It is really interesting.
The F35Bs pull up alongside the carrier and match the speed of the carrier. When they are stationary with respect to the carrier they then move laterally to get over the deck and then drop vertically to land.
YouTube link

There is also a video of a RAF test pilot doing a rolling landing on the carrier. This allows it to land with more fuel and weapons. This is a novel technique developed by the RAF and has not been done by US pilots yet.
YouTube link

Also the following video shows both US and UK pilots operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth on a joint deployment.
YouTube link

The HMS Queen Elizabeth has a huge amount of strike potential with 24 F35Bs (It can even carry upto 36 F.35Bs). Once the F35Bs get 8 x Spear 3 missiles each, it will have an incredible anti-ship strike potential that not many navies can match.

Is this the flying brick that could shut down at any moment?

The landing sounds interesting.

Wonder if they could have either a rolling, conveyer belt style, strip, or a spinning one for vertical landing and takeoff on land?

How tight can it turn? Have a large centrifuge going and the jet could?? do circles at the same rate. Put an air field in a high-rise building.

She looks like are beauty !

Is this the flying brick that could shut down at any moment?

Is what some of the pilots said when I cross-trained at USAF Air/Ground Ops School. About the F4 Phantom … You put big enough engines on a brick it will fly too. Regardless the F4 was a pretty good bird with many nations using it in the past. I think, if need be, the F35 and even the F22 will be thought of as highly as and better than the F4 or even the F14 in time.

"better than…even the F14 in time."

Never!

I can't think of a more cinematic jet.

The 80s-early 90s period with things like Top Gun, Super carrier, JAG, so on. Not mention all the other shows and movies that had them.

I'm not sure there has been a period like that. Outside of WW2.

Transformers had a mix of jets, mostly variations of a theme, but I believe the F-14 was there.

A new Top Gun has had people watching the original and JAG is on TV every day.

I'm not sure any other jet will ever get the screen coverage.

PS

In research, seeing a supertiger has shot itself down by flying faster than its bullets. Add the carrier landing mentioned above. And what drones are doing with movement.

Some interesting stuff, like air Tetris combat, could be just over the horizon.

Combat aircraft moving at 0-100+ with sudden 90+ degree turns and crazy formation capabilities.

Refueling will evolve to become unrecognisable. Bullets may not require their own propellant, instead being released by a faster moving aircraft.

Think of all those frustrating 80s games like Tetris, snake?, space invaders, so on. Now think 3D and in the sky above you.

In a straight fight, the F35 would get eaten alive by the F14. The F35 is NOT a dog fighter any sense of the word. The 35 is a attack fighter, it is not meant to get into knife fights. If it does, it fares badly.

F-35A's Beleaguered 25mm Cannon Is Finally "Effective"

link

Armand

Interesting and enlightening comments. I'll admit the F14 was a very good aircraft. I saw Top Gun and recently Top Gun Maverick too. Love both movies.

But based on what I know the F35 is one of the best aircraft on the planet. For both CAP and even CAS if need be … I guess I could be wrong ? We got any F35 or former F14 pilots here ?

Seems one USN member may agree with you !
link

F-14 Tomcat:

Role: The F-14 Tomcat was primarily a carrier-based interceptor designed for air superiority and fleet defense.

Features:
Swing-Wing Design: The F-14 had variable-sweep wings, allowing it to adjust wing configuration for optimal performance during different flight phases.

Long-Range Capabilities: It had a long operational range, making it suitable for extended missions.

Powerful Engines: The Tomcat was equipped with powerful engines, enabling high-speed intercepts.

Legacy: The F-14 gained fame during the Cold War and was featured prominently in the movie "Top Gun."

Retirement: The Navy retired the F-14 in 2006.

F-35 Lightning II:

Role: The F-35 is a multirole fighter designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.

Stealth Technology: One of its most significant advancements is its stealth capabilities, allowing it to operate undetected in hostile airspace.

Variants:
F-35A: Conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant for the U.S. Air Force.

F-35B: Short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant for the U.S. Marine Corps and some international partners.

F-35C: Carrier-based variant for the U.S. Navy.

Commonality: The F-35 program uses a single airframe with various alterations to suit different scenarios, reducing logistical complexity.

Challenges: The F-35 faces challenges from new enemy fifth-generation fighters, such as the Russian Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA and Chengdu J-20.

In summary, while the F-14 Tomcat was a legendary carrier-based interceptor, the F-35 Lightning II is a versatile multirole fighter with advanced stealth technology. The decision to bring back the F-14 concept for improved air superiority capabilities reflects the evolving threats faced by the U.S. Navy.

The F14 was a great fighter for its time, but is certainly no match for an F.35 one on one.

Taking the most modern F14, the F14D. It has an APG.71 radar and AIM.54C missiles. The missiles have a range of over 80 nm.

Now the F35B has an APG-81 radar and AIM120D missiles. The missiles have a range of about 60nm.

Looking at this information, it seems like the F14D has an advantage in terms of range. However, it is not just the range of the missiles, but the range at which you can detect something to fire at.

Due to the Stealth of the F35, the Tomcat's radar is probably not going to detect the F.35 until it gets within about 15nm.
However, the F.35 will probably pick up the large F.14D at over 120nm.

Now, you may point to the fact that once the F.35 turns its radar on, the F14D is going to know it is there. That is true, but the APG.81 of the F.35 has a Low Probability of Intercept mode. That is going to emit much less energy and lower the performance, but it should still be able to pick up the F14 at over say 35nm when in this mode. This would also significantly reduce the F14s chance of picking up the radar emissions.
The other option is for the F.35 to not use its radar but to rely on its AAQ37/40 FLIR/IRST system which will detect the thermal emissions of the F14 passively. It would probably pick up the F14 at about 20nm, which is still further out than it would be detected by the F14D with its radar.
All of this ignores the fact that the F35 would probably be receiving targeting information from other aircraft, all the while remaining undetected.
The F14 isn't even going to know that the F.35 is there until the missiles are in the air.

The F14 was one of my favorite military aircraft when I was growing up and it was certainly one of the best, if not the best, fighters of its time. But things evolve and the F.35 is one of the most capable fighters today. Probably only bettered by the F.22 in terms of air to air capabilities.

guys
this say could be the f14E
it wouldnt be built with 1970-80 tech
it would use current radars and some form of stealth coating for starters?
the missiles could be carried in a shaped stream lined belly pod
think boeing ? did one recently for the f18 ,memory hazy so might have wrong aircraft

F.35 is one of the most capable fighters today.

That's the way I too saw the F35 vs. the F14, Martyn. If nothing else the F35 is much higher tech than the F14.

Maybe, but the F-35 doesn't come with Sierra and ANZAC.

And along that line, the 80s net landings were much more attractive. IYKYK.

PS. How hard is it to stick 8 episodes on a double DVD anyway?