World's Coolest Fighter Jets

[slim jim]

http://wcbstv.com/slideshows/jet.fighter.fighterjet.20.228729.html

 

[zaraster]

WOW some of those are pretty wild

 

[propellerhead]

I hope you guys know that the F-16s are made right here in our backyard -- Fort Worth TX. Over 4,000 have been built and are in use in 24 countries.

We are also building the F-35 here at Lockheed. The F-35 is going through flight test right now. These jets are planned to replace the aging F-15s, F-16s, Harriers, F-18s, etc in the US and British military. Production will be ramping up here shortly.

We also build the mid-section of the F-22 here.

 

[Texas1911]

My friend is a test engineer at Lockheed Martin in Ft. Worth.

 

[txinvestigator]

My Neighbor works at Lockheed, and he took me on a tour Monday.

The F35 is being made in three versions, the A (STOL for Standard Take Off and Landing) the B model (VSTOL) and the C model for the Navy.

The A models are for the Air force and are replacing the F16 and A10. The B models are replacing the Harriers and F/A 18 in the Marines. The C model has larger wing and tail areas in addition to beefed up landing gear and structure along with a hydraulic tail hook for carrier operations. It will replace the current Attack aircraft as well as the older F/A 18s. The Navy is keeping the E and F variants of the 18, know as the Superhornet.

The F35 does not have a Heads Up display, but has that information integrated into the helmet.

 

[Texas1911]

Glad to see a more "economic" aircraft being developed. It's often been a bit odd to me why we have 50 different planes for a few common purposes.