Simviation Forum - UK takes delivery of its first Dave, sorry, F-35

Jul 24^th, 2009 at 4:56am

C Offline
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Earth

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Ok, it's only a static test airframe, but it's still and F-35 Lightning II(I)/Dave.

http://www.thenorthspin.com/news09/042709lockheed.html

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Reply #1 - Jul 24^th, 2009 at 5:26am

EJW Offline
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Lincolnshire, UK

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Great. The USAF are reviewing their orders for the aircraft and are expected to actually increase it, as it has been announced that the number of F-22s ordered will be cut.

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Reply #2 - Jul 24^th, 2009 at 6:16am

Hagar Offline
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C wrote on Jul 24^th, 2009 at 4:56am:

Ok, it's only a static test airframe, but it's still and F-35 Lightning II(I)/Dave.

Dave? Must be an IN joke. Not sure what my brother has to do with it. First they name a TV channel after him & now an aeroplane.* Roll Eyes

*I presume the F-35 qualifies as an aeroplane. Undecided

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Reply #3 - Jul 24^th, 2009 at 6:23am

C Offline
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Hagar wrote on Jul 24^th, 2009 at 6:16am:

Dave? Must be an IN joke. Not sure what my brother has to do with it. First they name a TV channel after him & now an aeroplane.* Roll Eyes

The TV channel may have something to do with it. "Dave" originated around the t'interweb whilst they were having the naming saga a couple of years ago. Someone got fed up, and christened it Dave, as we all know that it cannot be the "Lightning II" (particularly in RAF service).

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Reply #4 - Jul 24^th, 2009 at 6:34am

Hagar Offline
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C wrote on Jul 24^th, 2009 at 6:23am:

Hagar wrote on Jul 24^th, 2009 at 6:16am:

Dave? Must be an IN joke. Not sure what my brother has to do with it. First they name a TV channel after him & now an aeroplane.* Roll Eyes

The TV channel may have something to do with it. "Dave" originated around the t'interweb whilst they were having the naming saga a couple of years ago. Someone got fed up, and christened it Dave, as we all know that it cannot be the "Lightning II" (particularly in RAF service).

Just been reading a thread about this on another forum. It seems that Dave is one of the more polite suggestions.

The RAF is not forced to call it Lightning II. I presume that is based on the P-38 which doesn't have the same significance in this country as the superb English Electric Lightning. The MoD has a long history of renaming US aircraft when serving with the British armed forces.

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Reply #5 - Jul 24^th, 2009 at 8:50am

OVERLORD_CHRIS Offline
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Why di they ship it? 3 weeks to get there, they could have flown it the British C-17 or something and got it there in like 10 hours, and started testing the next day.

Dave hu..? What about Bristol Lightning? or one the old British cars that Top Gear keeps making fun of?

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Reply #6 - Jul 24^th, 2009 at 9:05am

gtirob01 Offline
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Ft. Walton Beach, FL

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Thats really cool, the 1st export F-35!

I will be seeing these flying over on a daily basis very shortly, as the AF base I live by is going to be the main USAF pilot training base for the F-35!

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Reply #7 - Jul 24^th, 2009 at 4:28pm

Mobius Offline
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Dave - I like it! Grin

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Reply #8 - Jul 26^th, 2009 at 1:25am

Isak922 Offline
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Connecticut

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Better than FRED, I suppose Grin

(The C-5 Galaxy's unofficial nickname is "FRED"... or "F***ing Ridiculous Environmental Disaster").

Guess the F-35 program is finally starting to step up a bit

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Reply #9 - Jul 26^th, 2009 at 10:52am

C Offline
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Earth

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OVERLORD_CHRIS wrote on Jul 24^th, 2009 at 8:50am:

Why di they ship it? 3 weeks to get there, they could have flown it the British C-17 or something and got it there in like 10 hours, and started testing the next day.

The problem with these modern airframes is they aren't transportable - so whereas you can take a big Tornado F3 interceptor, take the wings off and put it in a C17, Antonov 124 or the like, you can with the new breed, such as the Eurofighter.

Probably far cheaper on a ship too, and the airfield it's gone to is next to a large port.

(no spare C17s I suspect either. I think they'd all be too busy going eastbound from the UK)

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Reply #10 - Jul 28^th, 2009 at 6:59am

OVERLORD_CHRIS Offline
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Chalreston SC

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C wrote on Jul 26^th, 2009 at 10:52am:

OVERLORD_CHRIS wrote on Jul 24^th, 2009 at 8:50am:

Why di they ship it? 3 weeks to get there, they could have flown it the British C-17 or something and got it there in like 10 hours, and started testing the next day.

The problem with these modern airframes is they aren't transportable - so whereas you can take a big Tornado F3 interceptor, take the wings off and put it in a C17, Antonov 124 or the like, you can with the new breed, such as the Eurofighter.

Probably far cheaper on a ship too, and the airfield it's gone to is next to a large port.

(no spare C17s I suspect either. I think they'd all be too busy going eastbound from the UK)

I see, I never really delt with any prototype planes before.

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Reply #11 - Aug 16^th, 2009 at 5:12pm

Bullseyee Offline
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EJW wrote on Jul 24^th, 2009 at 5:26am:

Great. The USAF are reviewing their orders for the aircraft and are expected to actually increase it, as it has been announced that the number of F-22s ordered will be cut.

Noo, I like the F-22 way more it has way better looks than that ugly F-35..

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