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Here’s Why 'President Trump' Might Dump the F-35
The Fiscal Times ^ | October 23, 2015 | Martin Matishak

Posted on 10/24/2015 7:46:36 AM PDT by McGruff

Donald Trump boasts, “I’m the most militaristic person there is,” and that he’d build a military force so robust “no one is going to mess” with the U.S. Yet at his core, Trump is a businessman. So when the Republican presidential frontrunner looks at the Defense Department’s multi-billion dollar F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, he sees a lousy deal.

During an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, the real estate mogul said he has received briefings on the fighter jet effort and that it has “big problems.”

“I’m hearing that our existing planes are better. And one of the pilots came out of the plane, one of the test pilots, and said this isn’t as good as what we already have. And to spend billions and billions of dollars on something that maybe isn’t as good,” Trump said. He was referring to a recent five-page report written by a test pilot and obtained by War is Boring that said the fifth-generation aircraft was easily outmatched by the F-16 fighter, which the F-35 is meant to replace.

(Excerpt) Read more at thefiscaltimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Russia; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2016election; election2016; f35; fiscaltimes; hughhewitt; martinmatishak; newyork; trump; warisboring
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I heard him mention this in his campaign speech last night.
1 posted on 10/24/2015 7:46:36 AM PDT by McGruff
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To: McGruff

Finally, someone is noticing the elephant in the room.


2 posted on 10/24/2015 7:47:58 AM PDT by Parmy
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To: All

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump 1 hour ago Doral, FL

Leaving for Jacksonville now. See you there! Miami was great.


3 posted on 10/24/2015 7:49:39 AM PDT by McGruff (Trump-Cruz 2016. Make America Great Again.)
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To: Parmy

Lots of us have been saying that for years.


4 posted on 10/24/2015 7:50:10 AM PDT by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: McGruff

And no F-16V for the USAF ... just one plane to do everything for everybody for every mission ...


5 posted on 10/24/2015 7:50:28 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: McGruff
The f-35 is a boondoggle.

Though more "expensive", we NEED the F-22.

6 posted on 10/24/2015 7:53:37 AM PDT by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life, Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
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To: mountn man

“. . . we NEED the F-22.”

Amen! Our war strategy is not based on general control of the airspace, it is based on 100% control. 90% control will only be good enough to get a lot of Americans killed and wreck all the Pentagon’s nice sensitive plans and rules of engagement.

Oldplayer


7 posted on 10/24/2015 7:59:47 AM PDT by oldplayer
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To: McGruff

Good. The F-35 is a jack of all trades, and master of none.

Three distinct aircraft each optimized for its role, would ultimately be cheaper, more effective and keep more of our aviators alive.


8 posted on 10/24/2015 7:59:52 AM PDT by null and void (We are AmericCANs. We CAN win a war, if we choose.)
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To: McGruff

Aircraft Carriers, Manned Refueling Planes, Manned Bombers, Manned Fighters, and Manned Drones are obsolete, we just haven’t come to the collective realization.

Hopefully Trump will have people that come to this conclusion, we need dedicated AI drone carriers on the ocean, in the air, and maybe even in space.


9 posted on 10/24/2015 8:00:46 AM PDT by dila813
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To: mountn man
The f-35 is a boondoggle. Though more "expensive", we NEED the F-22.

The F-51 and the P-38 could give ISIS a night of shiite fits.

10 posted on 10/24/2015 8:02:12 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: McGruff

Is it true that the tooling for the F-22 Raptor was ordered to be destroyed by the Obama Administration?

BTW, have a great time in JAX.

Look across the river and wave to the two towers of the Prudential building—that was my project 30 years ago.


11 posted on 10/24/2015 8:03:51 AM PDT by exit82 ("The Taliban is on the inside of the building" E. Nordstrom 10-10-12)
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To: Parmy

Other than its a money pit like the 330 million dollar Colorado VA hospital now in its 10th year of construction and current 1.8+ billion dollar cost? Trump would roll heads.


12 posted on 10/24/2015 8:04:22 AM PDT by Sasparilla
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To: All
Meanwhile the Russians are using their equivalent of an A-10 to send ISIS to meet Allah.

Wonder how much they cost in comparison.

13 posted on 10/24/2015 8:08:58 AM PDT by McGruff (Trump-Cruz 2016. Make America Great Again.)
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To: mountn man

“we NEED the F-22.”

Here s an article which explains why we must design and build another new aircraft, and we are not going to be able to purchase anymore F-22 Raptor aircraft:

How quickly could Lockheed “roll out” another F-22 Raptor?

If a destructive war broke out, and the US Air Force absolutely had to have more F-22s as soon as possible (pre-emptive strike, war of attrition, etc), how soon could they get a new one? In essence, how long would it take to retool a factory, train workers, acquire materials, and build an airplane?

[....]


14 posted on 10/24/2015 8:10:06 AM PDT by WhiskeyX
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To: McGruff
I'm reminded of what John Boyd, arguably the best fighter pilot ever, had to say about the F-111, “Strip the wings off it, paint it yellow, and use it as a flight-line taxi.” The F-35 may be a very expensive alternative.
Oh, by the way, we should add a couple more active A-10 Warthog squadrons while we're at it.
15 posted on 10/24/2015 8:17:51 AM PDT by immadashell (The inmates are running the asylum.)
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To: McGruff
cause it's nothing but a money pit???
16 posted on 10/24/2015 8:22:16 AM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY - Luke, 22:36)
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To: immadashell

Colonel John Boyd — great American!


17 posted on 10/24/2015 8:25:55 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (I've switched. Trump is my #1. He understands how to get things done. Cruz can be VP.)
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To: dila813
...and Manned Drones are obsolete...

I think that's an oxymoron.

18 posted on 10/24/2015 8:26:39 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: oldplayer

“. . . we NEED the F-22.”

[Amen! Our war strategy is not based on general control of the airspace, it is based on 100% control. ]

With 100% control of airspace, you can then afford to fly cheap ground pounder planes like the A10 and anything else for that matter, including F16s and F15s. Heck, you could even take planes out of mothball.

The key is to get the most bang for the buck, not have some gilded one size fits all tech marvel.


19 posted on 10/24/2015 8:26:57 AM PDT by DaxtonBrown (http://www.futurnamics.com/reid.php)
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To: Don Corleone
I'm familiar with the old p-38, one of my favorite planes.
But I'm unfamiliar with the F-51.
Is it anything like this???

20 posted on 10/24/2015 8:30:17 AM PDT by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life, Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
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