UK Defence Forum

Yes, I know it's The Sun- they say that the cause of the crash is non-removal of plastic cover for engine intakes:

https://theaviationist.com/2021/11/24/f ... ble-cause/

Video of launch failure of F35B on QE -

well it was nice knowing the maint crew i guess.

off to the tower.

Attempting take-off with the brakes on ?

Here's a couple of normal take offs and the excellent view from flyco.

Scimitar54 wrote: ↑30 Nov 2021, 06:34 Attempting take-off with the brakes on ?

Yup. Covers are still on T_T

Still don't get how covers on is possible... The amount of people that would have to have failed to do their jobs for that to happen...

Maybe just a “Cover” story ?

Scimitar54 wrote: ↑30 Nov 2021, 06:34 Attempting take-off with the brakes on ?

Was that not the pilot trying to save the aircraft? Sadly not enough deck to stop in time (mutters something about 300m Alpha CVF design...)

Little J wrote: ↑01 Dec 2021, 10:44 Still don't get how covers on is possible... The amount of people that would have to have failed to do their jobs for that to happen...

I've seen some speculation that it could have been a lift fan/ventral intake cover. In which case it might not be as easily spotted at flight deck level as the forward blanks.

Either way, it would appear that this is a very expensive lesson which needs to be learnt well.

Airframe serial number has been leaked for the spotters amongst you....

ZM......

I'll finish it off...

ZM152 (BK-18)
First flight: 12th June 2019. Delivered to RAF Marham: 16th July 2019.

https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/8 ... 255e54d3f4

Sources: Finnish Defense Forces nominates US F-35 as Finland's new fighter
The Finnish Defense Forces proposes the US F-35 as Finland's next fighter. The matter is confirmed to Iltalehti from several sources of foreign and security policy.

Remember, the F-35 is a turkey and completely rubbish despite winning every competitive evaluation it has entered.

SO does that infer that the F-35 is the Finnish Air Forces preferred platform or that it has actually won the contest?

Lord Jim wrote: ↑05 Dec 2021, 23:37 SO does that infer that the F-35 is the Finnish Air Forces preferred platform or that it has actually won the contest?

Results of the test have come out, however some universities don't look at test scores I guess when there are words like sovereignty and CIA around.

The Finnish military cannot give anything but their objective opinion, while the Politicians can make subjective calls, tale as old as time.

However, Finns don't play politics when it comes to these things. Must be proximity to danger sharpening the senses.

Is there a consideration that Finland may consider the b model of the f35 for the same reasons as perhaps Singapore?
https://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/202 ... quisition/

Commons written answers :- attrition rates.

https://questions-statements.parliament ... 1-25/81886

Timmymagic wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 20:03
N.B. - LRIP 13 and 14 have been affected by COVID delays. Given the completion dates of the LRIP 13 a/c delivered in Oct 21 it is possible that we might see the remaining 3 a/c of that LRIP delivered in the first part of 2022 rather than at the tail end of the year that we have gotten used to. LRIP 14's 3 a/c for delivery in 2022 might turn up at the back end of the year.

Think this is actually going to happen....all 3 of the UK's next F-35B (ZM159, ZM160 and ZM161) are finished and flying...we should hopefully see a trail over the Atlantic in the next month or 2. Might even be expedited following the loss of 1 airframe to maintain training etc.

According to the UK defence journal UK is talking about more F35B but no orders yet.....

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain ... f-35-jets/

Another 24+1 ?

SKB wrote: ↑11 Dec 2021, 01:41Another 24+1 ?

Really like to see an order of 49 as the minimum next time around but 61 will give good coverage of both carriers plus an OCU and attrition airframes

That’s