[magslinger]

Comparing an F-35 to a Volt is probably unfair to the Volt. The little electric is probably OK at what it is designed for: back and forth to work, quick trip to the liquor store, that kind of thing. Grocery shopping? Can you fit a weeks groceries for a family of four in one? With the driver?

Any engineering involves trade offs. If you want a maneuverable bird, there goes the stability. You want armor? There goes the speed, rate of climb and ceiling. Kick it the butt harder. You just lost range. More fuel? Back to the loss of speed. I think they are trying to make the F-35 do too much. A fairer automotive comparison would be to call it a family sports pickup. Think of how poor it would be at all three tasks not to mention the dismal fuel economy.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

A 450 lb battery used to store the equivalent of a gallon of gas worth of energy. It doesn’t pass the laugh test.