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Marines under fire for flying $80M F-35 over SC during thunderstorm when report shows jets CAN'T handle storms: Pilot ejected due to 'bad weather' before jet 'flipped', flew 100ft above trees in 'zombie mode' and crashed in field
daily mail ^

Posted on 09/20/2023 7:52:32 PM PDT by algore

A F-35 jet could have crashed on Sunday due to poor weather in South Carolina, new audio suggests - as questions mount as to why the disastrous training exercise was allowed to proceed.

The F-35B Lightning II which the unnamed Marine pilot was flying is believed to be at risk of malfunctions if it flies in thunderstorms, according to a Forbes investigation in November.

Its sister jet, the F-35A, is more severely affected and cannot fly within 25 miles of lightning

he issue lies within the F-35's OBIGGS (Onboard Inert Gas Generation) system, which pumps nitrogen-enriched air into its fuel tanks to inert them, preventing the aircraft from exploding if it is struck by lightning.

'F-35B and C variants have some of the same OBIGGS issues as the F-35A, but have been able to alleviate operational impacts,' said Chief Petty Officer Matthew Olay, spokesman for the F-35 Joint Program Office, in an email to Forbes last year.

Audio from Sunday's crash shows the pilot telling emergency responders, after ejecting, that he 'lost it in the weather'.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: aircraft; f35; lightning; southcarolina
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1 posted on 09/20/2023 7:52:32 PM PDT by algore
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To: algore

So this means that when the war starts, the chicoms will be safe as long as the weather is bad...

Surely this is the Bee...


2 posted on 09/20/2023 7:57:03 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is the next Sam Adams when we so desperately need him)
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To: algore

We have a combat jet that can’t fly into storms? What a country.


3 posted on 09/20/2023 7:58:01 PM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: algore
he issue lies within the F-35's OBIGGS (Onboard Inert Gas Generation) system, which pumps nitrogen-enriched air into its fuel tanks to inert them,

An outgrowth of the legendary "center fuel tank explosion" on TWA flight 800. Most commercial planes use a nitrogen harvesting and injection system for the fuel tanks these days. (There are some competing technologies, I'll leave it to the experts as to whether any of them are actually in service.)

It's not like these systems are cutting edge at this point.

4 posted on 09/20/2023 8:00:42 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: algore

F-35s can’t fly in storms. Our enemies are thrilled with that ‘secret’ getting out.

If they couldn’t be seen before, during storms, they’ll be even more invisible.

Imagine if airlines couldn’t fly in bad weather. We’d be flying only half the time.


5 posted on 09/20/2023 8:02:17 PM PDT by adorno
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To: algore

Can’t fly in storms?

Very sad.

This country has gone downhill.

We would have lost World War 2 with todays military.


6 posted on 09/20/2023 8:02:40 PM PDT by moviefan8 (The noblest art is that of making others happy. - P.T. Barnum)
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To: algore

“Hey, you guys...do you mind if we don’t have a war today? There’s stormy weather in the forecast.”


7 posted on 09/20/2023 8:04:09 PM PDT by citizen (Put all LBQTwhatever programming on a new subscription service: PERV-TV)
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To: adorno

The next major upgrade to the F-35 will allow it to fly in bad weather ... it will take years and it will be expensive!


8 posted on 09/20/2023 8:05:12 PM PDT by Ken522
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To: algore

even Hillary’s broom has tactical fighter training experience in storms. Though her take offs and landings leave a lot of room for improvement.


9 posted on 09/20/2023 8:05:57 PM PDT by patriot torch (..)
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To: algore

Extreme yet ever increasing levels of incompetence at EVERY level of government.


10 posted on 09/20/2023 8:08:54 PM PDT by Newtoidaho (All I ask of living is to have no chains on me.)
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To: algore

Old combat systems: Minimum technology, maximum flexibility.
New combat systems: Maximum technology, minimum flexibility.

I’m beginning to thing we’re moving in the wrong direction.


11 posted on 09/20/2023 8:09:04 PM PDT by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: crusty old prospector
"We have a combat jet that can’t fly into storms? What a country."

Might as well just give them hang gliders to drop their bombs from. It would save a lot of money. What kind of aircraft do those hurricane hunters use when they fly into the eye of a storm? Maybe they should be flying our fighter jets instead.

12 posted on 09/20/2023 8:11:57 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: crusty old prospector

“We have a combat jet that can’t fly into storms? What a country.”

But you have to admit, it was yet ANOTHER bad-ass looking Western weapon system. Must have scared the Shiite out of Putin...well, until this week.


13 posted on 09/20/2023 8:12:03 PM PDT by BobL (I own an F150 so that I can tow my boat all day Saturday and look Manly)
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To: crusty old prospector

But our Generals know how to use the right pronouns - - can’t have it all...


14 posted on 09/20/2023 8:12:18 PM PDT by GOPJ (President Trump: ‘How much of a kickback does Crooked Joe Biden get?’ (ransom payment Iran))
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To: SuperLuminal

President Biden signed an executive order that no fighter jets can fly in inclement weather.


15 posted on 09/20/2023 8:12:39 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Biden would give Jesse James the train schedule for his 10%.)
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To: mass55th

Let’s go back to zeppelins. Maybe even Led ones.


16 posted on 09/20/2023 8:15:04 PM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: adorno

“F-35s can’t fly in storms. Our enemies are thrilled with that ‘secret’ getting out.”

Considering that something like two thirds of our high-end aerospace workers have an immigrant background (either born overseas or have parents that were), coupled with having the TOTAL IDIOTS that gave us the Ukraine War (American Neocons/Leftists)...we have no ‘secrets’.

I suspect that the only people surprised by their revelation are American taxpayers.


17 posted on 09/20/2023 8:15:34 PM PDT by BobL (I own an F150 so that I can tow my boat all day Saturday and look Manly)
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To: algore
I don't believe a damn thing about this story.

The rumor mill is that the aircraft was hacked and controlled remotely.

Possible? I don't know, but nothing is outside the realm of possibilities considering the depth at which so many of our national secrets have been pilfered.

Time to dust off those old Tomcats and bring them out of the boneyards. At least they're impervious to ChiCom/Russian hackers.

18 posted on 09/20/2023 8:17:29 PM PDT by Drew68 (Ron DeSantis for President. A conservative who fights and wins..)
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To: algore

Lightnings cannot fly near lightning... got it.


19 posted on 09/20/2023 8:18:58 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up..)
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To: PAR35

“An outgrowth of the legendary “center fuel tank explosion” on TWA flight 800”

Lol, I get a kick out of them having to invent fanciful lies to cover their behinds.


20 posted on 09/20/2023 8:19:02 PM PDT by avenir ("For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form"!)
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