THESE PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS?

Yesterday, July 12, Lockheed Martin had a media event at Ft. Worth to annouce the beginning of construction of the first F-35 fuselage.
A senator was there for the photo op and briefing on the new jet.
When asked for a statement she said…””…this new plane is stealthy and with the attributes of a helicopter, it can land and rescue hostages”.

Wow. a single seat fight as a rescue aircraft!!!
When she heard about the VTOL version she automatically thought rescue…and perhaps confused it with the V-22.

And these are the people that make procurement decisions.