I’m not military, just interested in all things aviation all my life.

I read recently the excellent story of Top Gun by the first commander who helped create it, Top Gun by Dan Pederson. In the last chapter there are some interesting facts about the F35, I encourage all who are interested to read it.

The F35 has been under development for 30 YEARS with billions of tax payers money spent, and its hardly operational even now. Its the most expensive warplane in history at well over 100 million a plane. 400,000 dollars just for the pilots helmet… It all beggars belief why we would spend so much money on so little in return.

If its so expensive, we (America and Britain) can only afford a few of them, and we can’t afford to give our pilots enough hours per month to be experts.

The F35 isn’t a dog fighter, its beyond visual range. So if the rules of engagement require visual identification, it will be at a big disadvantage to start with. And we won’t have many.

Lets just say that the Russians don’t go down the stealth/force multiplier idea, and instead they have 100’s of conventional aircraft. Mig 29’s, Su S27’s etc. Yes, in the past our pilots have defeated these aircraft when flown by third nations such as Iraq, but follow my thinking please.

Russia decides to invade Europe and quickly knocks out the few fighters at our disposal, so they have control of the air, and their armies are free to invade the whole of Europe. With no aircraft, and no air superiority, the only thing stopping them killing our wives and kids is.. the nuclear option?

I hope I’m wrong on this, but the F35 project has been going on too long, with way too many fingers in the pie from politicians and ex military alike. Its hardly operational even after all these years. Our current foreign secretary, David Cameron selling off 100 Harrier Jump jets for 100 million to the Americans, so we can’ afford to buy one F35. Really?

The F35 sounds like another money making scam like Statins, only far worse, with far greater consequences to us all.