Lockheed Martins F-35 JSF was officially named the Lightning II.
Nice name!
I’m not really a fan of the origanal but Lighting II is blasphemy.The F-35 is doomed [2c]
Lightning II, I like it.[^]
I don’t really like the “II” designations. I wish they’d come up with something original. Like… uh… um… well I can’t think of anything.
But something original. [;)]
Thats REAL original! As I recall, that was the name they were hanging on the YF-22 duruing the ATF competition.
I was never keen on the whole JSF thing from the start, nothing good can come of trying to make something “all things to all people”.
Mind you, I have heard that some folks working within the program have taken to calling it the “Battle Budgie” which I quite like.[:D]
As for the name “Lightning”, the only aircraft under that name that I trully get excited about is the BAC one.
How about this?: F-35 “Budget Raptor”
How about DOUBLE UGLY It’s a name that fits.
Well the A-10 is named thunderbolt II but who in the world calls it that? I’m sure the guys (and gals) that fly the f-35 will come up with a more fitting and generally accepted name.
I hope Canada does not buy that thing. I don’t think it will meet our demands.
Just so you guys know, we (the Marines) will give it a new name like with my 46’s (Phrogs), 53’s $hitters, V-22 (Deathspray) and ect!
Paint some shark teeth on it too!
OOPS!!! Canada seems to think its a good buy…
I always prefer it as the F-35 Peregrine as in the Peregrine Falcon. The world’s fastest bird of prey. Sort of lineage from the Fighting Flacon (F-16) and to keep up with all the “Bird of Preys” in the airforce.
Did you mean “Budget raper”? I think “Budget Buster” would be about right and Orginal! GoodHunting,G.W.
I’m not fond of the name " Lightning II" either but, I will reserve judgment it till I have seen the F-35’s " fangs and talons" and see what she is capable of. Also remember Gents, many aircraft that were named after WWII planes went on to be the best weapons in our Armed Forces, ( ie; Phantom II, Thunderbolt II ) The F-35 will have to earn the nickmane so lets wait and see.
Air Master
It’s still cheaper than the F-22 Raptor
The F-35 has a unit cost of about $45 million
The F-22 has a unit cost of about $150 million
yeah . . .but the F-22 has about 3 times the capability . . .
When you build on a per plane budget, you get what you pay for. And the govt will also cut back planes, the price will rise, and we’ll get into the same game as the F-22 and the B-2.
Technology isn’t cheap, and there’s a lot more to the F-22 than most think.
Actually, we wont know what it’s capabilites will be til the Air Force and Navy put it through weapons and tactics testing and decide what combat roles it will play. From my understanding there is a possability the Navy and Marine varients will also carry weapons externaly as well as internaly. As I mentioned in my prior post, lets wait and see.
Air Master
Yeah, I know! I engineer parts for the F-22.
I was just explaining my joke, that the F-35 could be called the “Budget Raptor”