From boots to flight suits, the Air Force is working to improve gear for female pilots

“Seats were designed to accommodate from the 10th to the 90th percentile for American men,” [Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson] said during an event in January. “That’s just the way it was. Most equipment was designed that way as well.”
Because this was the standard, the Air Force believed many women didn’t qualify to fly combat aircraft because they weren’t big enough to fit into that spectrum.
“OK, well, why don’t we start designing equipment so that 90 percent of Americans can do the job?” Wilson said. “Well, that takes time. We all understand that, but it’s been a generation, folks.”

I wonder if they are going to release some RFI.

Source:
Air force times.com

Boeing Overhauls Defense Unit in Attempt to Save Reputation

Boeing Defense CEO Leanne Caret, in an email to employees first reported by Defense One, said that the company next week will stand up two new divisions focused on commercial derivative aircraft and missiles and weapon systems. It will also eliminate a development unit created in 2015, changes that she said “refine our structure around our core markets, common missions and priorities, and position us to deliver.”

[…]
The Pentagon says there are still major deficiencies that must be worked out before deliveries can begin, including issues with the tanker’s remote-vision system that have caused the refueling boom to scratch fighters.
“One of our frustrations with Boeing is they’re much more focused on their commercial activity than on getting this right for the Air Force, and getting these aircraft to the Air Force,” Wilson said, adding that Air Force officials held face-to-face meetings with Boeing in recent weeks about the KC-46, and that “we have asked them to put their A-team on this to get the problems fixed.”

Source:
Motley fool.com
Defense One

Russia denying justice to MH17 victims: PM

[Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull] insists his government is doing everything it can to deliver justice for the 38 Australians killed in the the 2014 attack over eastern Ukraine.
He said he knew one of the Australians killed: “A beautiful nun, actually, who taught my daughter.”
“They have not got justice yet and we’re doing everything we can to deliver it, but the justice is being denied by the Russian government, that’s the reality,” Mr Turnbull told 2GB radio on Thursday.

Source:
9News.au

Enjoy!

https://breakingdefense.com/2018/03/not-cutting-f-35-buy-but-depot-structure-may-change-csaf-goldfein/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=61752371&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-94r_-bWdUWjhIkRSNg7fW5_LfuUjqBhEvHUIzBLAPAi38rY8R7fABtKiSgljS425fY6yhaj4cmjNO9x0E4LcS6pne6nw&_hsmi=61752371

the Government Accountability Office performed its analysis using existing aircraft as the cost model, when the F-35 was specifically designed for easier maintenance. Finally, estimating fuel and parts prices for such a long period of time teeters on the absurd. The Pentagon finds it almost impossible to estimate fuel costs out a two or three years, let alone 50.
Regardless of the precision of the GAO estimate, however, senior OSD and Air Force officials are clearly worried about the costs. They may also be using this to help nudge Lockheed, since they’re unhappy about its negotiating tactics and its lack of transparency on cost.

A T-38 is not a PC-21…

totally agree

several hundred relatively simple aircraft

New plane are ideally made to be… simple. The emphasis is put on mastering, not the control command, nor the systems but on how to manage the tactical picture. Hence a range of mission stays at reach for any part-time pilots, given that they have access to the proper training: Defensive A2A or CAS for exemple.

F-35 will be fielded by the ANG pursuing such tradition. I am sure that this would be in the hindsight of some other country.

Great shot of the complex nozzle geometry.

Cross posting from the News thread:

Report: Israeli stealth fighters fly over Iran

The report states that the two fighter jets, among the most advanced in the world, circled at high altitude above Persian Gulf sites suspected of being associated with the Iranian nuclear program.

It also states that the two jets went undetected by radar, including by the Russian radar system located in Syria. The source refused to confirm if the operation was undertaken in coordination with the US army

Spud made a remark about the range but Israeli 35’s are said to have the capability to be fitted with extra large EFT tanks. Adding some bags in the WB won’t sound unrealistic to me too.

Source:
Jerusalem Post Middle East

We will see what those claims become after some days. Let’s give it some time and meanwhile discuss it in the 35 thread* 😉

EDIT:
Cross posted in the 35 thread where I replied too.

*I hesitated where to put this report