[immadashell]

John Boyd, arguably the best fighter pilot ever, believed that the F-111 would have a more effective mission if they removed the wings, painted it yellow and used it for a flight-line taxi. He, and a bunch of Mavericks, conceived the design and performance characteristics of the F-16 after watching the Pentagon ground-pounders overload the F-15. Prior to his death in 1997 he concluded that the only USAF aircraft capable of performing the mission they were designed for were the F-16 and the A-10.

It appears that the Pentagon brass are attempting to do the same thing to the F-35 as they did to the F-15. If I understand it correctly, the F-35 won't even have an operational gun for several years. How can that be an effective ground support aircraft?

[T-Bird45]

If I understand it correctly, the F-35 won't even have an operational gun for several years. How can that be an effective ground support aircraft?

Because people who made a career of flying the go-fasts and now have stars on their shoulders say so. Therefore, those of us paying the bills should just STFU...