define LIFT

The new trainers that everyone oogles over but I seriously doubt anyone except the US is going to buy (Mako,mig-AT,K-50,etc),have been refered to as LIFT.My understanding of LIFT is a trainer equiped with systems that allow it to take over training that would normaly be done in the 2 seat version of the fighter to be used.The above mentioned “trainers” are just derated fighters and offer no legitamate kind of training that couldnt be done in the actual 2 seat fighter (say a 2 seat F-16 or gripen).I consider these “trainers” to be like training wheels on a bicycle,for students who are afraid of a 1 to 1 thrust to weight ratio or need 5 knot less landing speed to feel safe.To take the T-38 as an example,it is an advanced trainer,not a LIFT.It has high landing speed (150kts) that train student to handle lead sleds of the past generation like the F-4,F105,etc.Its use in USAF now is to bridge the gap between the turboprop pc-9 and the jet fighters to be entered.Buying these new generation “trainers” is a frivoless extra cost,and goes against the do everything multirole concept everyone says has killed the specialized aircrafts.