Hi All,
silver fox,
Absolutely correct you are.
CD,
Sorry to bang on about the cost that is my main opposition, will this help you out then ? The money being spent on the F-35 could have been spent better but instead those in power keep pumping more into an obvious failing programme that to be honest money will not fix. How is it the opposite direction ? I realise that programmes need developing and the money to back that up but I say again could have been better spent elsewhere.
As for the Typhoon follow this link and download the PDF that is available pretty interesting reading. http://www.eurofighter.com/news-and-events/2011/02/eurofighter-naval-version-makes-debut-at-aero-india-2011
Even wiki has some info here (Scroll to bottom of page). :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurofighter_Typhoon_variants
As you quite rightly point out the UK would probably be the sole customer but IMHO it would be money well spent all you have to do is adapt the rear of the airframe for a hook, the reason why the government changed their minds was simply the bean counters as always giving the UK cheaper kit and expecting the forces to keep the same readiness which as you know is a false economy cheaper is not always better.
It may be ludicrous to scrap the programme but like I said what do we do keep pumping money into this bottomless pit that is F-35 as you put it wasting billions, again I ask where do you draw the line or is it when the US Congress/Generals/Company C/O’s/Investors etc.etc. finally get fed up and want to cancel then everybody is allowed to ? How can this put us back decades ? If it accomplished tasks given that gave the aircraft advantages over every other apposing Fighter/Bomber then we wouldn’t be having this discussion, the very fact we are doesn’t that sound some alarm bells ringing for you ? as if the aircraft was performing as advertised we would all be patting Lockheed on the back the fact it is not doing what it says on the tin is an obvious red flag.
Why would you scrap all the development info surely they could be given to Boeing as a guide to what is possible and what is not and would aid them further with their decisions, while you say my idea is a bad one I would throw your own questions back How do you know it would worse than the money pit ? How do you know it would cost more ? As far as a guarantee that’s impossible as the F-35 is proving.

Geoff.

Hi All,
What I can never understand is why these tenders cannot be a two stage application the first stage would I have thought be those tenders who wish to save the aircraft from being scrapped and offer the best chance of it’s care and survival with all the associated infrastructure to support the winning bid laid out to government, Stage two would only then come into effect if a viable plan of action is not found. In other words all those who want to save the aircraft get first refusal and this would not involve the scrappers unless nobody can save it and keep it in good shape, then stage two would come into effect after stage one has been exhausted. :confused:

Geoff.

Hi All,
Done and forwarded it to 20 others ,now 818 good luck all. :eagerness:

Geoff.

Hi All
Unless the CAA change their strict ruling I can’t see any Tornado flying in private hands just like the Lightning and Buccaneer that are capable but are grounded due to the CAA ruling (No I don’t know what ruling :D) Such a shame really as if they were even only allowed on restricted operators license say it would give more pulling power to those air shows that could accommodate them.

Geoff.

Hi All,
Matthias,
Many thanks again for your excellent devotion to all things MeierMotors and their excellent achievements for the benefit of all of us who are viewing the updates on the forum. I hope you will be well rewarded for showcasing all the work these outstanding engineers are doing and especially yourself as without your undying support to bring the images and news some on here would not be aware of the projects and their progress 10/10 :applause:

Geoff.

Hi All,
Jim,
I am in agreement with what you put and will add that although I never really got the duck I did like his character Cuddles that was his funniest act a bit more risqué at times but none the less the character I will always remember him for RIP Keith.

Geoff.

Hi All,
Mike,
Correctomundo matey.
Cd,
It’s exactly the amount of many billions of money that you point out is what I object to mainly that even with extra funding on top of extra funding costs that have been asked for and given and still they fail to fix the problems they say the extra funding will cure like I say were do you say enough is enough ?
As far as cancelling the programme goes that is it just shut the money pit down and get a more realistic team to improve what we have as should have been done simple. As for an alternative I have already said the Harrier could have been developed further but instead of developing the Harrier they chose the new all singing all dancing route which has now been proven the wrong choice, like I said learn to walk before running, as for RN I have already said a Navalised Typhoon would suffice, as far as the UK pulling out then yes pump the money into a Navalised Typhoon if I have to have pushed on a decision if not then what about resurrecting the Boeing design that aircraft utilised lots of on the shelf parts so why not just do that I always likened the Boeing JSF to the A-10 ugly in some respects but was probably capable of dong the job.
I have already agreed with you that all programmes have teething problems and yes if it means starting again then yes do that but keep Lockheed out of it as they had their chance and messed up big time or like I mentioned above just say well it’s over to you Boeing instead of funding a programme that just hoovers the money with know real further improvement give the runner up a chance to shine.

Geoff.

Hi All,
Charlie,Mike and CD,
Of coarse you are all correct with your last posts but CD the reason the F-35 is such a dog is simply it cannot fulfil what was promised despite what the test pilots say on camera. The millions that have been sunk into it despite assurances the extra funding would easily fix the problems, then yet more extra millions pumped into the programme on top of that they still cannot fix the problems, that is why it should be cancelled. Now ask yourself this when do you admit enough is enough if everybody still pumps money at a programme it could go on for ever, the only thing that gets fixed is the Lockheed bank balance.

Geoff.